Vitreous Detachment - anyone else had this?

[jazzbo]

Hi!
Had a bad scare yesterday morning at work. Started seeing "lightning bolts" in one eye, and a huge streak that looked like blood floating in my eye. Went to the eye doctor who sent me to a retinal surgeon. It wasn't the retina that detached, it was the vitreous sac that abruptly detached from the retina. Luckily it didn't tear the retina or damage the macula. I'm still seeing big floaters and lightning bolts. The surgeon said this will "diminish over time." Anyone out there experienced this? I see the lightning flashes everytime I move my head.:(
Jazzbo

[Mich]

Hi Jazzbo,

As it was explained to my by my opthamologist, what happened to you is considered a normal part of aging. As we age, the vireous gel becomes more liquid and shrinks. As the sack containing the liquid shrinks. it pulls away from the retina.

As diabetics, we tend to have a lot of EGF Epitheleal Growth Factor (stimulated by lack of circulation/oxygen in our eyes) and it causes us to grow more veins in the back of our eye.

Sometimes these veins are ruptured as the vireous sack pulls away and it causes a bleed. It sounds like you got a sudden successful detatchment with no bleeding. In my experience, the light flash happens every time your eye has to get used to a new situation and yes, for me it does calm down in time.

Next time you see him or her, ask your optho about all of this (I may have gotten some details wrong) and also google DETACHED VIREOUS SAC" and see what you come up with.

I hope your flashes calm down soon.

Mich

[jazzbo]

Thanks Mich, I go back on Monday for a recheck. I appreciate your thoughts on this. It scared me.
Best wishes for your good health.
Jazzbo

[Jan28]

weird thing. the same thing happened to me while I was at work. I was bending over a counter and straining to reach something and all of a sudden i had flashes of light and blood in my eye that moved with when I moved my eye. So ya I had it happen and my dr told me to sleep slightly upright to hlp absorb the blood faster. Weird uh?

[lambda]

Hi Jazzbo - newbie here - was just diagnosed with vitreous detachment also, so was wondering how everything worked out for you? Does anyone know how long one needs to be careful about exertion after symptoms arise? I'm trying to keep my blood sugars low, but am a little concerned about working out. Cheers, Lambda

[desertcactus]

Hi. Also a newbie. Not a diabetic, but searching for info on vitreous sac detachment. I got it immediately after left cataract replaced 2 yrs. ago. It has not gone away. Some days worse than others, but always the white haze and like looking at the world thru moving jelly fish.

My ophthalmologist referred me to a retinologist recently who said "learn to live with it, cannot be fixed". It drives me crazy. It seems there ought to be some solution. If anyone has any suggestions, please post. Thank you.

[xMenace]

Welcome.

I assume they did a dialated exam. there's supposed to be no lasting effect if it detaches cleanly. If it's not clean, I'd suspect damage to the retina. if so, vision will not likely improve anyway.

I suppose a vitrectomy could fix things somewhat. Sometimes they are done for floaters. It's a risky option though.

[peej07]

I went through this last year and came out fine. I did end up having a vitrectomy last April but have been all good since then.

[gettingby]

Welcome.

I assume they did a dialated exam. there's supposed to be no lasting effect if it detaches cleanly. If it's not clean, I'd suspect damage to the retina. if so, vision will not likely improve anyway.

I suppose a vitrectomy could fix things somewhat. Sometimes they are done for floaters. It's a risky option though.
If that's the case, I think I'll keep my floaters, thank you.:eek: