Posterior Vitreous Detachment, (PVD)

[landellais]

I have very recently been diagnosed with PVD following an episode of bright flashes in my peripheral vision, plus new floaters. I was informed that for the next 6 weeks I must not take part in contact sports such as rugby, martial arts, boxing. Inverted positions such as in yoga or pilates. Very heavy lifting, energetic or high impact exercises such as running or aerobics. I realise that there is a risk of suffering a detached retina were I to engage in any of the above, and understand the reason why. Shaking you eyes about would not be a good idea.
I am permitted to carry on with daily activities, such as walking,gentle exercising, reading, watching TV, cooking and using the computer. Cycling is not mentioned in the literature. I wonder has anybody else had this eye issue and carried on cycling during the 6 week period ? I am 67 by the way and a fit cyclist.

[Cyril Haearn]

What happens after six weeks, should it reattach, or shall it be treated/operated?

[Vorpal]

First, I suggest that you call your specialist and ask.

I don't have any medical qualifications, but I wouldn't think that gentle cycling is a problem. That might mean getting off and walking for hills. Personally, I'd be super cautious given that the possible outcome is loss of sight.

[rotavator]

I had this in both eyes a few years ago. I had my eyes checked by opticians on both occasions just to check that there was nothing seriously wrong. The flashing lights stopped after may be two months and then my vision was back to normal apart from the floaters. I was too busy at the time for much cycling. Just walking around was interesting because of the flashing lights each time a foot hit the ground.

[fastpedaller]

As others have said, ask the consultant. I had detached retinas 25 years ago, but understand your situation is a different one - i think it's to do with the fluid? Anyway, I'd take it very steady avoiding any blows (I bashed my head on the underside of a car and it was 2 weeks before I noticed visual defect - I really did bash it hard!), anyway as for riding your bike, I'd not do it until given an all clear - especially with the risk of falling due to wet leaves on the roads at present.

[531colin]

I have very recently been diagnosed with PVD following an episode of bright flashes in my peripheral vision, plus new floaters. I was informed that for the next 6 weeks I must not take part in contact sports such as rugby, martial arts, boxing. Inverted positions such as in yoga or pilates. Very heavy lifting, energetic or high impact exercises such as running or aerobics. I realise that there is a risk of suffering a detached retina were I to engage in any of the above, and understand the reason why. Shaking you eyes about would not be a good idea.
I am permitted to carry on with daily activities, such as walking,gentle exercising, reading, watching TV, cooking and using the computer. Cycling is not mentioned in the literature. I wonder has anybody else had this eye issue and carried on cycling during the 6 week period ? I am 67 by the way and a fit cyclist.

Yes, and, yes.
I'm afraid that whenever some well-meaning medic. (etc....) tells me I shouldn't cycle for "X" weeks, my response is to inform them that cycling is necessary for my psychological well-being. Fair enough, I wouldn't go throwing myself down the black run at the trail centre...(but I wouldn't do that anyway). For me, the benefits of a gentle ride out so far outweigh the possible or potential damage I might cause.....one optician said I might come off the bike and bang my head....that would have to be the second time in a lifetime cycling. I probably wouldn't see how far or fast I could ride, either.
My right eye went first; floaters, bright lights (which weren't there) and in that case a retinal tear. The tear was treated by lasering, this sticks the edges firmly back down with scar tissue, and a bit that the laser couldn't reach was fixed by freezing. Unpleasant at the time, but wholly successful.
The left (dominant) eye went a couple of years later; just floaters and bright lights, no tear that side. (The bright lights are due to the vitreous humour pulling on the retina)
To this day all the floaters are a blasted nuisance, my vision isn't as good as before. I can't identify big stones on tracks, so I hit more than I used to. I can't see details of birds markings, so identification is tricky. sometimes reading is difficult, eg small print and poor light. I'm not aware of the retinal tear at all; there must be a "gap" in my vision, but its peripheral and unilateral, and I don't notice it.

[Oldjohnw]

I have had pvd for a couple of years. At first it was partial, giving a possibility that it might cause retinal damage. It was after another about 6 months complete, which sounds worse but is in fact better. It is a damned nuisance.Sometimes the brain learns to cope completely but mine has done so in only a limited way. My vision is sometimes poor in strong light and the floaters are most annoying. I sing publicly and sometimes struggle reading the music. But otherwise life is normal. Just took a little time.

The condition should not be treated lightly if your optician says so: retinal damage is serious.

[Multiple edits because of multiple weird predictive text changes!]

[landellais]

I would like to thank-you all so much for your replies. Regarding your questions, Cyril Haearn : The vitreous will not reattach and there is no operation or treatment for it after 6 weeks. It is a natural process and over 75 per cent of people over 65 will develop PVD. It is possible to remove the vitreous but not normally done in the UK. The reason for opticians setting the 6 week period restrictions is that 1 in 10 people develop a retinal tear within that period. The hope is that the vitreous will detach completely without issue. Thank-you once again for taking the time to give me your take on whether to cycle or not during this time. I shall ponder very carefully. .

[landellais]

UPDATE.
I have just returned from visiting the optician who did my initial examination to clarify my situation regarding whether to cycle or not.
I asked if it was OK to cycle with my friends on the road on hilly and strenuous rides. Can I train on my Tacx Flow in the house ? She said 'Yes, go off and enjoy your cycling '.
I asked if there was any problem with intraocular pressure . She said that I can ride as hard as I wish to, no problem.
The only concern is with activities that shake the head about, football, running, rugby, etc.
So, it is with joy that I am going out for a nice ride today. I know that there is always a risk of coming off and banging my head but in over 400000 cycling miles I have managed this only 3 times, and never in over 1000 races on road and track.
Most of my injuries following a fall have resulted in damage to hips, elbows, knees, shoulder, broken wrist, broken ribs.
In fact, I have banged my head on more occasions in the house than whilst cycling. We all have to do our own risk assessments. I choose not to smoke or drink. However, I ride motorbikes where the risk of death and injury is ever present. Cycling is so much safer.
Happy and safe cycling to you all, and thank-you.

[ANTONISH]

I have very recently been diagnosed with PVD following an episode of bright flashes in my peripheral vision, plus new floaters. I was informed that for the next 6 weeks I must not take part in contact sports such as rugby, martial arts, boxing. Inverted positions such as in yoga or pilates. Very heavy lifting, energetic or high impact exercises such as running or aerobics. I realise that there is a risk of suffering a detached retina were I to engage in any of the above, and understand the reason why. Shaking you eyes about would not be a good idea.
I am permitted to carry on with daily activities, such as walking,gentle exercising, reading, watching TV, cooking and using the computer. Cycling is not mentioned in the literature. I wonder has anybody else had this eye issue and carried on cycling during the 6 week period ? I am 67 by the way and a fit cyclist.

I had this a few years ago.
My GP sent me to an optometrist (apparently local NHS has an arrangement). It was described as a "pull" on my retina.
After the eye test I was told it wasn't unusual for aging persons.
I was told that should I experience seeing a black dot in the middle of my vision I must go straight to the local eye hospital.
She declared me fit to drive and keep cycling.

[uppadine]

I had this in one eye two years ago, and then the other eye a few weeks ago after a major car accident and my head jolted forwards; the effect in both eyes is as Colin describes above, a real nuisance, with both eyes going in and out of focus all the time. In the first occurrence the brain didn't override the windscreen-wiper blade travelling across my eye each time it moves, and an occasional dancing black fly-like thingy. It's now the same in both eyes and time will tell whether the brain manages this extra challenge in the second eye. But it's a nuisance only, and things could be much worse. I can still cycle, which is what's important.
You'll know the PVD itself isn't realistically curable and we just hope it doesn't lead to retinal damage.

[S27KMW]

What happens after six weeks, should it reattach, or shall it be treated/operated?

Hello, I hope you don't mind me contacting you all this time after your post. I have just read the entire thread as I'm experiencing the same thing. How are you now, did things settle down?

[ANTONISH]

What happens after six weeks, should it reattach, or shall it be treated/operated?

Hello, I hope you don't mind me contacting you all this time after your post. I have just read the entire thread as I'm experiencing the same thing. How are you now, did things settle down?

I am of course not the OP - I had this when I was 70 and it came on the morning I was due to ride a reliability trial.
I still rode the trial and went to my GP the next day. She sent me to a local optometrist who diagnosed it as a "pull" on the retina.
She said it was age related but it wasn't serious and would improve (apart from the floaters).
I've had no serious problems since - I'm now 80(I did get some flashes when I was descending a rough stretch of the Col d'Aubisque a few years after).

[Jdsk]

I have just read the entire thread as I'm experiencing the same thing.

Have you seen a professional already?

Jonathan