Optician scared me

[quackerjackflewaway]

Since cataract surgery a year ago, I've been experiencing some visual oddities. At my routine eye test yesterday the optician said I have Posterior Vitreous Detachment. He has told me I must avoid various activities for six months. I'm happy not to ski or do boxing, but he also said not to swim, because of the sudden head movements, to discuss some the exercises I'm doing in physio, and not to hoover because of the vibration. When I joked about having an excuse to make DH hoover, optician got very serious and said you must take this seriously, you must protect this eye. Then said I can see you are anxious., I could refer you to the hospital, but they will only monitor you for 6 months as I am doing. They will want to avoid surgery in someone with only one working eye

I was very worried yesterday, but now I've read about it and slept on it, I wonder if he was being a bit OTT? Maybe even enjoying the power of scaring a younger woman?

I would be embarrassed to raise it with the physio - it is a small group and she is pushing us hard. It might sound as if I'm making excuses. I'm appreciating the tailored input and seeing progress.
I know I have form both for minimising and for exaggerating illness for attention. That comes from an an abusive childhood including a mother verging on Munchhausens. eg she spent years trying to convince me and various medics that I had TB and diabetes, but refused to take me to the GP for genuine recurrent tonsillitis. So I don't have a good gauge of reasonable responses to medical stuff.

Would I be reasonable to ignore the restriction the optician has tried to impose on me, and just act on the instruction to seek immediate advice if I get more visual disturbances?

It took me two seconds to google this

www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/posterior-vitreous-detachment/

personally I would listen to the optician, they are trained, most of Mumsnet is not

Agree. I'd be listening to the professional who trained for years to do the job.

Yes, exactly. I googled the same, and it says "There is no evidence either way that any of the following activities will cause any problems with your PVD, but some people may be advised to or choose to avoid:

Very heavy lifting, energetic or high impact exercises, such as running or aerobics.

Playing contact sports, such as rugby, martial arts, or boxing.

Inverted positions in activities such as yoga or Pilates."

It clearly says no evidence either way.

Listen to the specialist please and speak to the physio who.will.want to follow the specific advice uou have been given as well
Never risk your vision

Why would you ignore serious medical advice from a professional that might have significant consequences? When you’re too embarrassed to ask the physio, another professional, for advice.
If it was your child, would you do the same?

I have this, it happened to me in my late 20s several years ago and I saw multiple consultants at the eye hospital because they had never seen someone so young with it so they all wanted to have a look at my eye.

I was essentially told to be careful for 6 weeks, any new symptoms such a bright flashing lights to go back immediately and that was it. Didn't even need a follow up. I was told that if I were to have any complications, they generally happen within the first 6 weeks of symptoms starting.

Oh and it's not a really uncommon scary thing, it's actually quite a common thing to happen when you get older. It's generally seen more in older people

@Xmassprout Thanks, the advice you got sounds like the conclusion I've reached. It is more than 6 weeks since this started, because I didn't realise the flashes and blurring were important. I can't see any value in restricting my activity now.

Posted too soon

In particular I can't see why the optician was so determined to alarm me about it

Why would your first thought be him enjoying the power of scaring a younger woman?! He's just doing his job. If he was female would you have thought the same? Probably not.

I had a vitreous detachment before I had cataract surgery. I was given a diagnosis and no advice! I'm guessing it was probably caused by boxing and hitting the mat hard on many occasions. I follow the advice.

Well you obviously don't scare easily. Poor chap was just doing his job.

Sometimes you get that vibe from a HCP. Not often, obviously.

@MermaidEyes My first thought was "Oh my goodness, I'm in danger of losing my sight. I have to wrap myself in cotton wool for 6 months. He is being really strict about this"

Now I've read more, I think he was going to extremes. I messaged DH about it at the time, so he is going along with those instruction and has already stopped me from hoovering and from hammering in some stakes in the garden

Personally I'd listen to his advice.

Not surprisingly that you find it hard to trust though, given that your mum wasn't trustworthy when it came to looking after your health.

I suppose you could see another optician for a second opinion if you wanted.

Personally if an expert told me not to do something because I might go blind, I would pay attention.

I can't believe that the threat of going blind isn't enough for you want to follow his orders

Maybe even enjoying the power of scaring a younger woman?

This is just ridiculous. He’s trained for years to do the job and is giving you tailored appropriate medical advice.

But sure, trust google and random MNers instead 🤦‍♀️

Well. You don’t have to follow the advice.🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve had pvds in both eyes and I’m very short sighted with lattice retinal degeneration so very high risk for retinal detachment- which is the main worry with pvds incase it develops into that (I’m -9.50 both eyes). I was checked by two opticians and sent to the eye hospital at the Norfolk and Norwich and none of them said anything about avoiding swimming or hoovering! 😳 I was just told to avoid contact sports and try not to bump my head on anything and to go back if I had any more floaters or severe flashing lights (I had both; the flashes eventually stopped) or a dark curtain across my eye. Thankfully it did settle down after about 6 weeks in each eye.

I am absolutely terrified of having a retinal detachment, it’s one of my main fears, so I’m very over cautious about it all but I’m genuinely surprised they told you not to Hoover!

Even the threat of going blind seems over-exaggerated. The RNIB stats say no more than 10-15% of people with PVD will experience a retinal tear, and most people who get a retinal tear can have it repaired so it doesn't progress to full retinal detachment.

80% of retinal detachment repairs are a success as long as you get prompt treatment. It’s the delays that often cause the long term damage as the longer the retina is left unattached the more sight you lose.

I can speak with my bestie for advice, she works at opticians doing the pre-tests.

You can always ask the optician or your GP to refer you to an eye clinic. I have a couple of minor problems with my eyes and I get an appointment every 6 months. Sight test and eye exam each time, and I’ve lost count of how many years this has gone on for.

Most people actually have pvds- it’s a normal part of ageing, it’s just some people have it happen with no symptoms at all and if you are short sighted it’s more likely to happen at a younger age.

I’ve got PVD , and I never got any advice and that was at the eye clinic at the hospital . Maybe it’s different at different ages .