Retnia detachment survey

[JCUtah]

I am currently recovering from retnia detachment in both eyes. They happened about 5 months apart. And there was no obvious reason this occurred. The doctor said it was bad luck more than anything. I did ask if shooting a rifle prone could be an issue. One doctor said no and the other was not knowledgeable enough with firearms to give me an answer one way or the other.

I decided to create a survey and see what other shooters have experienced and if there was a trend. I will share the data so we can all shot with a little more knowledge than what we started with. Obviously if I see a trend that is not good then I might have slow down how much I shoot to save my eyesight.

Below is the link to the survey. I ask 4 questions. There is a comment box for those that like to tell a tale. There is no name or personal info gathered. This is survey is for everyone that has not or has had a detachment.

This survey software is similar to survey monkey. I use it at my workplace for quizzes and inspections. It's pretty simple to use. Just copy and paste.

https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/dU695Bb41ck9KPqMs

Thanks.

 

[Alexander-M]

I completed your survey. I have had two detached retinas, and have been assured that nothing I had done, or could do, caused the detachments. However, there were conditions that could have prompted the detachments. First, I am nearsighted, so my eyeballs are somewhat elongated, and this can make it easier for the retinas to detach. Also, I had cataract surgery about a year before the detachment.

Brief timeline:
I suffered three mini-strokes (TIA's) on 01 Dec 2017, which left no permanent damage. Almost three weeks later, I had the first detached retina - totally unrelated to the TIA's.
19 Dec 2017 - Left eye retina detached - lower edge.
20 Dec 2017 - Surgery to reattach retina - oil bubble used.
07 Mar 2018 - Surgery to remove oil bubble.
27 Mar 2018 - Left eye retina detached - upper edge.
28 Mar 2018 - Surgery to reattach retina - gas bubble used.
04 Jun 2018 - Gas cleared up completely on its own - finally!
Have had several follow up checkups, and everything is A-OK.

I was told not to do strenuous exercises or shoot for about three weeks after each surgery, but after that I slowly resumed my exercise routines, and some shooting.

So far I am OK, and I shoot at least once a week, prone (F-Open).

Good luck!

Alex

 

[Kurz]

The doctor said

Was he/she an Ophthalmologist? Or some other specialist? I'm simply curious as there are different specialties in so many of the medical professions these days.

 

[shoobe01]

(Not a doc, but have enough human factors work background to have studied up on some odd parts of sensing organs like eyes, and have had enough head traumas and other medical oddities to have asked my eye doctors myself):

Recoil from firearms, fired in anything resembling the proper manner, will not cause head trauma at anything like the required level to detach retinas. You are taking the recoil into your shoulder, not your head.

Head trauma can do it, but even auto-accidents are rare. Explosions, aircraft accidents, can sometimes do it... but your eyes float in your head so it has to be a specialized impact to not also just outright kill you. A detached retina is one of those measures of G force that forensic pathologists use to determine impact forces, so shows up in e.g. NTSB reports on survival factors, or why everyone died and how we can learn to make it more likely they survive... or in this case so often as proof the impact forces were so high no protective measures could have saved anyone, and you just need to not run the plane into the mountain at all.


Spontaneous detachment (e.g. not a result of trauma) is apparently much more likely for people who have not recently been transported by air ambulance, but have a detached retina. Medical conditions cause this, and if your doc hasn't found a cause, I'd ask them to dig deeper into likely risk factors as they are the sorts of things that will tend to cause other medical issues you don't want.


As one person's doc mentioned above, do wear eyepro on general principles. And... think about what protection means. Eyepro is not just for particles and fragments, but will reduce the pressure wave from muzzle blast, (and if applicable: explosive overpressure), but... pressure waves get into your head in many ways. Over-ear earpro is more effective, goggles are more effective than glasses, and the military even makes sure the ears, eyes, and helmet all integrate to do their best to seal your whole head from pressure waves.

If you want to be a huge nerd and have questions about what to get, the APEL list is a good starting point: https://ec.militarytimes.com/static/pdfs/APEL-poster.pdf

 

[JCUtah]

Was he/she an Ophthalmologist? Or some other specialist? I'm simply curious as there are different specialties in so many of the medical professions these days.

Both are retnia specialist.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Thanks for this thread. I learned a lot. This is useful stuff. I want to remember this in case I have the issue someday, so I can knowledgeably respond to some family members that will tell me I should quit shooting.

 

[swd]

I have a lot of experience with rifles in cartridges from 375 to 600. And also a lot of trap shooting. Both my eyes are still fine. I wouldn’t be surprised if genetics might have something to do your eyes.

 

[JCUtah]

I want to finish this post with the survey results.

15 people took the survey.

8 people had a retnia detachment.

6 people said the doctor did not believe shooting firearms contributed to the eye condition.

3 people said the doctor didn't commit one way or the other if shooting a firearm contributed to the detachment.

Six shooters shot 500-1000 rounds per year One very devoted shooter goes through more than 3,000 rooms per year. I'm jealous. The rest were in the middle of 1,000-3,000.

The experience of shooters is:
2 @ 1-5 years.
6 @ 5-10 years
3 @ 10-15 years
1 @ 15-20 years
3 @ greater than 20 years

The comments were positive and helpful information.

Thanks for taking the time to complete the survey. Keep shooting.

 

[Stepsjframe]

I'm not in a position to comment or any aspect of your treatment of it, but one comment I will make is that when we are listening to scary things (such as your recent appointment) we tend to remember and amplify in our minds the really scary stuff.

These days, the medics have to be so careful to ensure they have explained the risks as well as the benefits of any procedure. Our minds can tend to skip over the good bits, on the basis that that's what it's all about. You know that bit, but focus on "the tricky procedure", potential bleeading, pain and all that stuff they go through.

Please don't think for an instant I am trivualising anything at all, as our sight is clearly very precious indeed, and we'd want to hang onto that with both hands.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I was born with a detached retina nearly 60 years ago. It has not been repaired.

 

[snakepit]

VTS "Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome" is another eye problem that is usually a result of aging. I currently have this in my right shooting eye. As you age the clear gel in your eye often shrinks which normally causes no problems. But sometimes the shrinking gel sticks to the macular and pulls on it and the retina. This pulling affects the ability of the eye to clearly focus. This requires eye surgery to separate and replace some of the gel from the macular and allows it and the retina to return to its normal position clearing up your vision. Mine is not very severe yet and I am still able to shoot at 600 yards but I have to put a 1" fluorescent dot on my target and it looks like a fuzzy ball but I am still able to shoot with 50 power set on my scope. I will be having the surgery this fall. The following is a reprint from the internet.

What is Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome?

"The macula is the special area at the center of the retina, which is responsible for clear, detailed vision. The macula normally lies flat against the back of the eye, like film lining the back of a camera. The vitreous is the clear gel-like substance that fills the interior of the eye. As the vitreous naturally ages throughout life it shrinks and pulls away from the retina. In some people the vitreous can remain partially stuck to the macula. In these people the vitreous pulls on the surface of the macula and distorts the normal anatomy resulting in vitreomacular traction."

 

[dskogman]

"Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome" is another eye problem that is usually a result of aging.

I thought I had a detached retina last week but the doc said it was Vitreous Detachment. My vision is still not very good and had a difficult time seeing the target at a match last weekend so VTS sounds more like it.

Getting old sucks.