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?

Absolutely this.

You say the optician was exaggerating . I would say he was concerned as you already have one bad eye . But if you want to throw caution to the wind that's your choice .

We are all different though. I'm of an age where PVD is expected and I have 2 working eyes so to lose vision in one would not be an absolute catastrophe.

In your position I would be seeking a second opinion as your stakes are much higher.

The optician can given you individualised advice based on his clinical examination of your eye. Not the eyes of anyone on this thread or on the internet. If you doubt it get a second opinion but don’t discount it. He told you it was serious because in his expert opinion, gained from many years of experience and training, it is serious. You’ve said yourself that you don’t have a clear, reliable view of your own physical health because of your upbringing. I don’t think you should trust your initial view on this. It is very scary to hear unexpected news about a serious health risk and that can cloud anyone’s judgement. But do take this seriously, your eyesight is incredibly important.

My mum lost vision in one eye in her early 40s because of this. No amount of laser eye surgery could reattach the retina.

The optician looked at your actual eye and clearly thought you had a serious case. I wish the optician who had seen my mum when she complained about flashes had taken her as seriously.

I ended up with a macular hole in my retina as the result of PVD, the vitreous got stuck and didn't detach cleanly. I suddenly realised that looking at vertical objects e.g lamp posts, they were bent at right angles. I had to have surgery, but my eyesight isn't back to normal in that eye, it's pixilated and there's no prospect of improvement. I'd recommend you follow the optician's advice - once the vitreous has fully detached you can go back to normal.

A friend of mine spent six month lying on his front for 23 hours a day so that the fluid in the eye would help keep the detached retina in place while it healed. Given that PVD can lead to retinal detachment I would follow your optician's advice.

You already only have one working eye?
He probably does want you to be extra careful as losing sight in your other eye would leave you blind. The worst case scenario is very serious so he is being cautious - I think rightly. I would follow his advice.

I think it’s really obvious because you don’t have full sight in one eye. If you end up being a worst case situation, then you life will be hugely impacted.
I am pretty sure if he assumed best case scenario, didnt tell you how serious it can be and that eye was damaged, you would be moaning that he dismissed the condition due to you being a young woman.

As an Optometrist I can tell you the advice given is correct. He would have been extra cautious as you have only the one working eye, I am also the same with patients who only have the one eye that works well. It's for your own benefit. You can choose to ignore our advice if you wish, we cannot physically stop you. We can only give our professional advice.

You sound in denial. It isn’t that inconvenient to follow his advice vs the risk of permanently damaging your eyesight.

Yep. You only having one functioning eye is far more likely to be the reason for his caution, than him wanting to scare you because you're a young woman. Why the later explanation even occurred to you, boggles my mind.

I would usually be on the side of listening to the health professional but just went to a hospital appointment with a freaked out elderly parent who had been thoroughly wound up by the optician - consultants advice was that his sight was fine and he did not need any surgery.

A few years ago I started getting a flash in the corner of my eye (which was only noticeable in the pitch dark) whenever I turned my head to one side. A quick google suggested PVD, and that was confirmed by a subsequent visit to SpecSavers. I was not given any special instructions, just told it was pretty common and normally wasn't a problem. I was also warned that since it had happened in one eye I could expect to get it in the other eye within the next few years (no sign so far).

He's actively said, quite sternly, not to do certain activities. And you're going to choose to ignore him.

Imagine if he just casually mentioned it as a maybe, should think about, you might want to, etc.

Personally, I'd trust my optician more than my GP, but you do you. Your vision. Your choice. Don't go making him out to be some sort of intimidating "man" because he's trying to keep your sight.

Oh my word! You clearly don't value your eyesight. I do, having low vision in one eye following a detached retina and a huge tear in the other eye. I bump into things, can't see steps etc and realise how precious eyesight is.
I hope that you realise this without tears, detachments or other issues.

I’m an optometrist OP and the key here is whether the PVD is in the process of happening, or has happened and the process is complete (not sure if that was determined?)
As others have said PVDs are extremely common and actually most people will experience them as they get older. In the vast majority of cases the vitreous detaches without causing any symptoms or problems. In a small number of people as it comes away it can do damage - a macula hole, or retinal hole/tear that could progress to a retinal detachment which can all affect vision and need treatment. If any of these had been seen you would have been referred straight to ophthalmology. If the PVD is complete, there is no contact between the vitreous gel and retina anymore and problems are extremely unlikely.
I assume from what was said, the PVD is still in progress so caution is sensible, especially with only one good eye, but I have to say I’ve never told someone to not hoover!
The only time I’ve seen similar advice given was a young man who had repeat problems with retinal holes who was also short sighted and ophthalmologist advised him to stop lifting weights in gym, but even he wasn’t told to avoid anything else.
Please don’t worry yourself tho, the RNIB info you read is excellent

I was one of the 10-15%. It’s all very well saying you can have a retinal tear repaired, but for me, that’s been 1x laser eye surgery whilst awake (super uncomfortable) and 2 x ops under general anaesthetic. It’s meant 2 months off work and annoying treatment with a gas bubble which meant I had to face down for a week each time after. One man triaging the eye ED also made it quite difficult to access their emergency care without a prior optician’s appointment, with classic detachment symptoms - but then once I mentioned the words possible retinal detachment, opticians sent me straight back to the hospital, so that was an extra hurdle I could have done without. Loads of follow up appointments as well - time off work etc. A complicated eye drop regime following surgery too. The surgeons were great but I haven’t regained 100 percent of my sight.

Don’t be me. Rest and look after your sight.

Take the opticians advice and ask them to write to your gp requesting a referral to the eye hospital. Mate of mine had the same about 30 years ago and ignored them, carried on scaffolding. All I’ll say is it didn’t turn out well for him in the end. Generally speaking from my own experience medical professionals are not there to scare you they are there to advise and warn you for the benefit of your long term health.
Now whether or not you choose to heed that advice or warning is up to you but you can’t blame them for the consequences if you choose not to. For my Hap’orth.

Your vision is an odd thing to be so dismissive and cavalier about.

The optician was giving advice for you - not the hordes of older people for whom PVD is a natural if somewhat disconcerting part of aging, that needs to be kept an eye on so to speak for potential holes and tears, etc.

You who have already had surgery on your eye. And who says, I've been experiencing some visual oddities. Not the average PVD, ie.