So I’m sitting at home all this week after having had an emergency treatment (but not surgery, Thank God) for a detached retina. I’ve got the Boston Marathon (in April) and, Rev 3 Quassy (early Jun) and IM Austria (June 30) scheduled next year and I’m trying to figure out if I can do any of those now. Well, actually I’m trying to figure out if I should do any of them, even if my doctor says it’s ok. I’ve heard stories of additional detachments of people who came back too fast.
No idea how it happened. Never got bumped or anything that I’m aware of. 45 years old, reasonably nearsighted (-5.00) but I’m guessing it was helping move a heavy treadmill that kicked it off. Suddenly I had a cloudy right eye the next day. Thought it was an eye infection so I moved up my annual eye appointment to have it checked out). Eye doctor took one look and said, “Go to the Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary emergency room right now”. Scared the hell out of me.
I’ve had the emergency cryo treatment and they have injected the bubble in my eye. I now have to sit (and sleep) in basically an upright sitting position for a wheek. Apparently I was right on the borderline between that and needing the full-blown surgery. I’ll know for sure at the end of the week, I guess.
But even if it goes well I’m trying to find out everything I can, including how long before I can run/bike/swim again. Even if the doctor says, “2 months” I’m worried that might be too soon. I’ve googled like crazy, joined a yahoo group on the subject. But its hard to find someone who has had this who does more running or cycling that what I would consider “light”
Just to be clear, I absolutely intend to take at least as long as my doctor tells me too. I intend to treat that as a minimum, time off, not a maximum. But I’d like to hear if anyone here has had this and what their experiences were. The only thread I can find on the subject is this:
Anyone had a detached retina? How long did you take to come back? Anyone come back too soon and have a complication? I don’t want to do that. I’m used to running a ton so it’s going to be hard to come back slow
October, 2006 at Marine Corps Marathon, noticed a visual field defect in my right eye. Retinal detachment. Had the same treatment you’ve described: cryotherapy plus bubble, week of positioning to keep bubble in correct spot. All vision returned. Returned to swim/bike/run 3-4 weeks later.
In June 2007 the problem returned. Found during a routine follow-up appointment. This time I had surgery–vitrectomy and scleral buckle. Operation went well.
No further problems. Vision is good. No recurrence. And no impact on swim/bike/run.
It’s certainly a scary event. It’s easy to take vision for granted. I tell folks to err on the side of caution.
I had surgery last March 11 for detached retina. Noticed the visual hole during a track workout - but had eye doc appt scheduled already - you know its bad when they say “sending you to specialist” and they schedule the surgery the next day. I was at higher risk for retinal detachment b/c of prior eye surgery (cateracts). I dont remember exactly what happened durng sx - had cryo and laser done to ensure the tear was reparied and there was no more damage. Then the air bubble to keep the eyeball inflated. They drain all the fluid out to do the surgery. Was stuck on the couch for a week - no reading noe computer - nothing. That was the worst part.
I went into the surgery after drilling the doc about return to training and racing. The first Xterra of the season was 30 days after my surgery and I still wanted to race. Iwas going to do exactly what he said - my vision is more important then any race. One week of zip - on the couch. Then one week of nothing over 100 heart rate. I was walking and on the spin bike because I could not drive yet. Two weeks after sx I was cleared to drive and get HR up to 120 on the spin bike. Still no running or swimming. I was walking easy and doing very mild workoits at CTS. I had to have someone get my bike out of my car - couldn’t lift more then 10 lbs. I had my 30 day follow up the day before I left for the Xterra in Vegas and was prepared to not go if that was the verdict. But I was cleared to race - with the instructions to “not get kicked in the head and to only go about 80%”
And I behaved - with a very careful swim and mountain bike. I have more details on my blog - just look at march 2011.
The short version of that is I would take your time getting back - if something doesn’t feel right stop, keep your heart rate down and focusing getting healthy. Then, when you are cleared to start training again ease back into like from any other injury. Usually, behaving the first time prevents a second time - or further surgery. But you should be fine for all your races next year if things heal well. I raced the whole Xterra curcit last year - pluses mountain biking and such. And while it wasn’t my greatest season - I was still back out there working hard - and its paid off this year.
Good luck - and rest your eye! No slowtwitch every hour. Watch Tv listen to books and music but rest that eye.
I had cryo over 20 years ago. It was so long ago I don’t even remember which eye it was or how long they told me to take it easy. Since then I have done dozens of 100-mile runs, Ironmans, adventure races and even an Eco-Challenge. I think the biggest thing to worry about is taking a kick to your face in a mass swim start. Happened to me a few months ago and here comes the big new floater and flashing lights for a day. So far everything is okay, knock on wood.
Four years ago, I was stopped at the side of a highway on my bike when I was hit by a car doing 50 mph. Yes, I should not be here at all. Worst part of the impact was severe detached retina. I needed 2 surgeries, the first did not take, the second time was very invasive, cryo, laser welding, gas bubble, scleral buckle and weeks looking at the floor. I had done 3 IM before the accident and now 3 more since. I lost a complete season of training and racing, I was hit in April, returned to training in October, I think the second eye surgery was in July. My vision never returned to normal, it’s mostly distortion issues and just poor vision out of one eye. Worst part is trying to determine how deep the potholes are that I am about to ride over as depth perception also suffered.
I was concerned about returning to my active lifestyle, after a few visits to my surgeon I asked him what his advice to me was. He said just don’t get hit by a car and you will be fine.
It sounds crazy but boxers who get this injury always return to the ring. Good luck!
I had cryo over 20 years ago. It was so long ago I don’t even remember which eye it was or how long they told me to take it easy. Since then I have done dozens of 100-mile runs, Ironmans, adventure races and even an Eco-Challenge. I think the biggest thing to worry about is taking a kick to your face in a mass swim start. Happened to me a few months ago and here comes the big new floater and flashing lights for a day. So far everything is okay, knock on wood.
Very much appreciate yours and Tracy’s and every one else’s reply. Its good to hear that people dont feel limited in subsequent years. I can live with a long recovery if it means I can eventually run and bike as much (and as hard) as I want. No danger on the swimming end. I never push the envelope there. And I dont do any contact sports.
?!!!
One thing: If you really had those symptoms after that kick to the head every single account I have read in my brief scare says you should go to the eye doctor right now to verify you have not had another detachment. Those are the symptoms anyway. And apparently you can go on for a very long time (like over a year) with a detachment feeling fine before it goes really bad.
It might be that I am just overly scared now and just “got religion” so to speak. But those are definitely the symptoms. They are exactly the symptoms. And I have stumbled across too many accounts of someone who ignored them only to need the more drastic surgery later. Hell the guy who admitted me to the hospital told me about a 21 year old kid who ignored those symptoms and went blind in the eye…
The flashing lights and new floaters are something to keep an eye on - it’s called posterior vitreal detachment and can be a pre-cursure to a retinal tear. Basically, the fluid sac (retina) is pulling away from the back of the eye and can tear. I actually had that happen prior to my retinal detachement - about 5 weeks before, was at work, had just finished with a really difficult patient and all of a sudden had the floater and a fireworks show in my eye. I did call the eye doc right away and got the semi-emergency opening. My doc told me what was going on and the hazards from the PVD. I took it seriously enough that I got names and numbers of eye docs and surgeons in Tucson before we headed down to 24 hrs OP. So to be safe, if I ever had any of those symptoms again, I would definitely be calling my eye doc. I will admit to still being a little skittish during swims - but haven’t done many huge mass starts to worry about. And I have crashed, done some major soil sampling and such while mountain biking without issues.
I tore my retina more than 20 years ago in middle school. I don’t remember much about it other than hating the constant follow-up appointments and getting my eye dilated all the time. Now it doesn’t bother me at all. Probably good to have had it happen so young so that my body could repair it so well. In truth the only thing I can say that I notice from the whole thing is that I now have a weird story about a pole-vaulting accident that I can tell from time to time.
I am a retinal specialist who also does ironman, mountain biking, trail running, etc… My info here is not directed at you but is simply an example of what I tell my own patients.
When it comes to retina detachments, I usually allow most of my patients to get back to ALL their normal activities once the bubble in the eye is gone. If a patient’s retina is to come back off, after a great surgical repair, then it is not really within your control. Typical reason for a redetachment is the development of PVR (proliferative vitreoretinopathy). PVR is scar tissue and you have no control over its development regardless if you are running or in a coma somewhere. It is the biggest pain in the ass to any retinal surgeon (and patient, of course). Your doc knows your eye best, and has examined/operated on you, so make sure you take their advice over all others.
As someone else mentioned, it is always good to avoid any direct impact to the eye (regardless of a history of surgery or not). You will need continued follow up as I have had patients come back three years later with new detachments. Many people think of the body as “hey, I have a broken bone. The doc will put it back together and I will walk again”. The eye is not exactly like that. We can put the retina back and make it a surgical success but there is not always visual success. The retina is like “brain” tissue so it may not always heal back to complete vision recovery even with great surgery. Also, because of the changes in vision, you certainly have to be extra careful when running or riding. Not because it will re-detach your retina but because of limited depth perception and limitation with seeing surroundings (ie, cars, other cyclists, etc…).
Thank you so much for the reply. I have no problem doing whatever I am told if I will eventually be able to resume a normal training schedule at some point down the line. I dont do any contact sports. Just running, swimming, and cycling. And in my tri swims, I always stay clear of the pack anyway.
As it turned out, though my original procedure (cryo + bubble) to repair the original tear did “succeed”, there were additional tears that necessitated full blown surgery. I had a vitrectomy plus laser plus a bit more cryo. I am now about to start my 3rd consecutive week at home lying down, staring at the floor to keep the bubble in the proper position.
On the two follow-ups I have had so far, my Doctor has said all looks very good. But obviously I wont really know much until the bubble is gone.
In your experience, once the bubble is gone, is that the vision the person is going to have indefinitely or is there an additional period during which it sill might improve?
I was lucky - when that damned bubble went away (and you just had the same surgery I had to start with) - the vision in my eye was back to normal for me. The area where the tear was healed up and I did not have any holes in my vision - which is one possibility. I have noticed a little more issues with depth perception at times, especially when night riding and that eye does seem to get more “tired” then my other eye. I am also willing to bet I’m a little younger though
I also found it more annoying when the bubble was half gone - as it was like looking through a goggle half filled with water. Head ache inducing! Heal well, rest your eyes frequently and do what you need to heal. At least it’s the “off” season when you have to take some down time and rest
Thank you so much for the reply. I have no problem doing whatever I am told if I will eventually be able to resume a normal training schedule at some point down the line. I dont do any contact sports. Just running, swimming, and cycling. And in my tri swims, I always stay clear of the pack anyway.
As it turned out, though my original procedure (cryo + bubble) to repair the original tear did “succeed”, there were additional tears that necessitated full blown surgery. I had a vitrectomy plus laser plus a bit more cryo. I am now about to start my 3rd consecutive week at home lying down, staring at the floor to keep the bubble in the proper position.
On the two follow-ups I have had so far, my Doctor has said all looks very good. But obviously I wont really know much until the bubble is gone.
In your experience, once the bubble is gone, is that the vision the person is going to have indefinitely or is there an additional period during which it sill might improve?
I have seen people continue to improve even a year out from surgery so don’t despair. It is certainly aggravating, especially for an active person like yourself.
Is there any evidence to suggest a link between strenuous exercise and Retinal Detachment or Posterior Vitreous Detachment?
I’m a -3.75 and due to my line of work (pilot), I’d like to minimise any risk to my vision.
No, there is NO conclusive evidence. Most RDs related to sports are from direct injuries to the eye.
Your biggest risk factor is being myopic (near sighted). A -3.75 is not too bad (not considered pathologic myopia) but you would be wise to make sure you have a yearly eye exam and it is by a doc who knows how to evaluate your peripheral retina (looking for “weak areas” and/or retinal breaks).
Along the same lines…is there any evidence that endurance sports make CSR any worse? I have been recently diagnosed (last October) but was just told to quit caffeine. I have a follow up next month with the MD retina specialist. Just looking for a little heads up.
Along the same lines…is there any evidence that endurance sports make CSR any worse? I have been recently diagnosed (last October) but was just told to quit caffeine. I have a follow up next month with the MD retina specialist. Just looking for a little heads up.
I am really surprised CSR has not been diagnosed in more triathletes. CSR is considered an idiopathic (no known cause) disease but is commonly seen in Type A personalities, people on steroids (ie, chemo pts as part of their treatment regimen), and, less commonly, pregnant women. I have never read anything saying endurance sports will contribute, or exacerbate, the disease. Mainly, I tell pts to reduce stress in their lives (yeah, like that is easy), cut back on caffeine and/or cigarettes, and stop use of steroids (if any and not part of needed treatment).
Bad thing about CSR is that it tends to recur in a lot of pts. Sometimes you will notice it and other times you will not.
