Retinal detachment risk
 

Hello everyone,

I haven’t posted in a while (mostly because things have gotten better). I suffered a minor/moderate concussion back in January and although the initial symptoms were not too bad, I ended up experiencing some mild visual disturbances such as starbursts and afterimages. These were not eye related, but rather brain related. Nowadays they don’t bother me much at all. In fact, I hardly notice them unless I pay attention to them.

One thing that definitely did happen as a result of my concussion, was an increase in floaters. I got this checked with an eye doctor and was told that everything looks normal but that some of the vitreous in my eye became slightly detached from the impact of hitting my head. I know PVD is usually age related, but I am only 28. No change since then (7 months ago). I had my last eye check up last week and got discharged because everything was normal. I was, however told to go to A&E if I notice any signs of retinal detachment.

Obviously now I’ve convinced myself that I will get retinal detachment from this concussion. I mistakenly thought that it can only happen straight away or a few weeks after you hit your head, but apparently it can happen even years after!

I was just wondering if anyone else who suffered a concussion a while back had issues with partial PVD and if you had to do anything about it (like more frequent eye checks?) I know retinal detachments are quite rare even in people who suffered head injuries, but I just can’t stop worrying about it. The rational brain says that it’s probably going to be ok. My ophthalmologist wasn’t concerned, she discharged me; she didn’t even want to see me for a check up in a few months’ time. Is this just anxiety??

I suffered PVD just over a year ago. No impacts at all. PVD is age related for most people. My brother suffered bilateral PVD in his mid 50s with no cause other than age and maybe genetics.

When my PVD happened, I raced to the ER. The doc did a very thorough assessment to determine if he needed to refer me to the weekend on-call ophthalmologist for a retinal detachment. That was not the case. I was referred to an optometrist who did an assessment and followed me for 3 months.

It has been over a year and nothing changed. I still have a bird's nest of fuzzy squiggly lines in my right eye. They have faded a bit but my brain has also learned to look past them.

If all you see are those squiggly lines when you turn your eyes and they sort of lag then catch up to eye movement, that is the viscous vitreous. If spots do not lag and are in exactly the same spot all the time and especially if they are brown and blotchy, that is a retinal issue. The doctor released you because you exceeded the statistical time when a retinal issue would have manifest.

Relax and learn to look past the squigglies.

Maybe Atticus will see this and respond. He is an eye specialist.

Thank you so much Mark, this is very reassuring! I’m glad your eye issues weren’t serious.