Posterior Vitreous Detachment

[Ali99x]

I was recently diagnosed with PVD and understand that the separation process can take weeks or even months. I’m a yoga instructor and was wondering if inversions (Downward Facing Dog, Headstands, etc.) need to be avoided until the separation has completed.

[Ali99x]

Thank you - I heard back from my ophthalmologist that yoga is ok but I am going to limit inversions until after my follow up visit in 3 weeks.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Good idea.  If you have not acute PVD in the other eye sooner or later you will. When that happens it also will need to be checked.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes, absolutely you should avoid those. Be sure you are under the care of an Eye MD ophthalmologist.  Report to her/him any sudden increase of floaters, flashes of light or loss of peripheral vision. Although a slow chronic PVD is very common,  and carries a low risk of retinal detachment, an acute PVD has about a 5-6 % risk of a retinal tear/with or without a retinal detachment.  You would need to get clearance from your opthalmolgist before resuming those head down yoga poses.