Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

[Guest guest]

Just because someone suffers a retinal detachment while weightlifting does not

mean that weightlifting was the primary cause of the detachment. Chances are

that the individual was predisposed to having a retinal detachment and it

happened while weight lifting.

*********************

Conditions That Predispose an Eye to Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachments are relatively unusual in the general population – the

accepted annual incidence figure is approximately 1:10 000.[4] However, a

variety of ocular and systemic disorders are associated with pathological

vitreous liquefaction, premature vitreous detachment, and extensive sites of

vitreoretinal adhesion. These conditions, therefore, are also associated with

increased chances of retinal detachment. Particularly important predisposing

entities include high myopia, pseudophakia and aphakia, blunt and penetrating

ocular trauma, and cytomegalovirus retinitis associated with acquired

immunodeficiency syndrome.

Yanoff & Duker: Ophthalmology, 3rd ed.

Copyright © 2008 Mosby, An Imprint of Elsevier

************************

Just because there is a temporal association does not mean there is causal

association. The weight lifter could have suffered a retinal detachment doing

any other activity. My wife suffered a retinal detachment in her 20s when she

accidentally bumped her head getting out of a car. She has a history of a

congenital retinal infection. Her retina was ready to tear at any time.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct. USA

________________________________

From: Bob Pitatzidis <bobz2335@...>

Supertraining

Sent: Sat, February 19, 2011 6:21:49 AM

Subject: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

Is this a real dangrer for people doing recreational or even professional

weight lifting?

I think the evidence is not conclusive. There are studies thought that show

this to be true:

a.. Kocak N, Kaynak S, Kaynak T, Oner HF, Cingil G (2003). " Unilateral

Purtscher-like retinopathy after weight-lifting " . European journal of

ophthalmology 13 (4): 395-7. PMID 12872799.

a.. Chapman-Davies A, Lazarevic A (2002). " Valsalva maculopathy " . Clinical &

experimental optometry : journal of the Australian Optometrical Association

85 (1): 42-5. PMID 11952395.

Bob Pitatzidis

Thessaloniki, Greece

[Guest guest]

Well, is weight lifting an additional detrimental factor to retinal

detachment?

My wife has very high myopia (over 6) and her mother has retinal detachment

(family history). So we already have 2 factors against her. She weight

lifts but now she got scared. Is this justified?

Bob Pitatzidis

Thessaloniki, Greece

Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

Just because someone suffers a retinal detachment while weightlifting does

not

mean that weightlifting was the primary cause of the detachment. Chances are

that the individual was predisposed to having a retinal detachment and it

happened while weight lifting.

*********************

Conditions That Predispose an Eye to Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachments are relatively unusual in the general population – the

accepted annual incidence figure is approximately 1:10 000.[4] However, a

variety of ocular and systemic disorders are associated with pathological

vitreous liquefaction, premature vitreous detachment, and extensive sites of

vitreoretinal adhesion. These conditions, therefore, are also associated

with

increased chances of retinal detachment. Particularly important predisposing

entities include high myopia, pseudophakia and aphakia, blunt and

penetrating

ocular trauma, and cytomegalovirus retinitis associated with acquired

immunodeficiency syndrome.

Yanoff & Duker: Ophthalmology, 3rd ed.

Copyright © 2008 Mosby, An Imprint of Elsevier

************************

Just because there is a temporal association does not mean there is causal

association. The weight lifter could have suffered a retinal detachment

doing

any other activity. My wife suffered a retinal detachment in her 20s when

she

accidentally bumped her head getting out of a car. She has a history of a

congenital retinal infection. Her retina was ready to tear at any time.

======================

[Guest guest]

If your wife is concerned she should see and opthomologist. Retinal detachment

is usually preceded by a retinal tear. Retinal tears as well as detached retina

can be easily fixed. My wife's retinal tear was repaired 25 years ago and she

has had no problems since then.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct. USA

________________________________

From: Bob Pitatzidis <bobz2335@...>

Supertraining

Sent: Sat, February 19, 2011 1:54:07 PM

Subject: Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

Well, is weight lifting an additional detrimental factor to retinal

detachment?

My wife has very high myopia (over 6) and her mother has retinal detachment

(family history). So we already have 2 factors against her. She weight

lifts but now she got scared. Is this justified?

Bob Pitatzidis

Thessaloniki, Greece

Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

Just because someone suffers a retinal detachment while weightlifting does

not

mean that weightlifting was the primary cause of the detachment. Chances are

that the individual was predisposed to having a retinal detachment and it

happened while weight lifting.

*********************

Conditions That Predispose an Eye to Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachments are relatively unusual in the general population – the

accepted annual incidence figure is approximately 1:10 000.[4] However, a

variety of ocular and systemic disorders are associated with pathological

vitreous liquefaction, premature vitreous detachment, and extensive sites of

vitreoretinal adhesion. These conditions, therefore, are also associated

with

increased chances of retinal detachment. Particularly important predisposing

entities include high myopia, pseudophakia and aphakia, blunt and

penetrating

ocular trauma, and cytomegalovirus retinitis associated with acquired

immunodeficiency syndrome.

Yanoff & Duker: Ophthalmology, 3rd ed.

Copyright © 2008 Mosby, An Imprint of Elsevier

************************

Just because there is a temporal association does not mean there is causal

association. The weight lifter could have suffered a retinal detachment

doing

any other activity. My wife suffered a retinal detachment in her 20s when

she

accidentally bumped her head getting out of a car. She has a history of a

congenital retinal infection. Her retina was ready to tear at any time.

======================

[Guest guest]

Hi Ralf.

My wife began worrying after she talked to her opthomologist, who told her

not to weight lift.

Now, I do not trust doctors who give theoretical advices and have no contact

with real world training. But I also do not have a documented answer to my

question:

Is weight lifting a probable cause to retinal detachment, especially with

aditional contributing factors as heavy myopia and family history?

Bob Pitatzidis

Thessaloniki, Greece

Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

Well, is weight lifting an additional detrimental factor to retinal

detachment?

My wife has very high myopia (over 6) and her mother has retinal detachment

(family history). So we already have 2 factors against her. She weight

lifts but now she got scared. Is this justified?

=======================

[Guest guest]

Would you rather risk your wife's eyesight by getting advice from people who

know a lot about weight lifiting but have never had experience dealing with

retinal detachment. I am not an ophtomologist and I would not dare to offer any

advice that is outside of my field of expertise. My only experience has been

through my wife's retinal detachment.

***********************

Retinal detachments are important potential causes of reduced visual acuity,

particularly in the subgroup of individuals who are predisposed to the

development of retinal tears. Nearly all symptomatic rhegmatogenous retinal

detachments progress to total blindness unless they are repaired successfully.

Timely recognition of the symptoms and signs of retinal detachment is important

to maximize the chances of a favorable surgical outcome and to preserve visual

acuity.

Retinal detachments are relatively unusual in the general population – the

accepted annual incidence figure is approximately 1:10 000.[4]

Yanoff & Duker: Ophthalmology, 3rd ed.

*********************

As you can see from the above incidence of retinal detachment in the general

population (1:10,000) you would have to suvey possibly 1,000,000 weight lifters

to determine if there is an increased risk of retinal detachment in weight

lifters vs the general population.

I suspect that the reason for avoiding weight lifting might be because of the

fact that in the process of lifting weights, in particular heavy weights, the

Valsalva maneuver is often unavoidably performed. The valsalva maneuver causes

a sudden rise in central blood pressure which could cause a rise in intra ocular

pressure. In an individual who is susceptible (family hx) this rise in intra

ocular pressure could precipitate a retinal tear an subsequent retinal

detachment.

You should weigh the benefit of weight lifting vs the risk of retinal

detachment.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct. USA

________________________________

From: Bob Pitatzidis <bobz2335@...>

Supertraining

Sent: Sun, February 20, 2011 4:27:05 AM

Subject: Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

Hi Ralf.

My wife began worrying after she talked to her opthomologist, who told her

not to weight lift.

Now, I do not trust doctors who give theoretical advices and have no contact

with real world training. But I also do not have a documented answer to my

question:

Is weight lifting a probable cause to retinal detachment, especially with

aditional contributing factors as heavy myopia and family history?

Bob Pitatzidis

Thessaloniki, Greece

Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

Well, is weight lifting an additional detrimental factor to retinal

detachment?

My wife has very high myopia (over 6) and her mother has retinal detachment

(family history). So we already have 2 factors against her. She weight

lifts but now she got scared. Is this justified?

=======================

[Guest guest]

Ralph,

How does a rise in blood pressure cause a rise in intra ocular pressure?

Giovanni Ciriani - West Hartford, CT - USA

On Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 11:28 AM, Ralph Giarnella <ragiarn@...> wrote:

>

>

> Would you rather risk your wife's eyesight by getting advice from people

> who

> know a lot about weight lifiting but have never had experience dealing with

>

> retinal detachment. I am not an ophtomologist and I would not dare to offer

> any

> advice that is outside of my field of expertise. My only experience has

> been

> through my wife's retinal detachment.

>

> ***********************

> Retinal detachments are important potential causes of reduced visual

> acuity,

> particularly in the subgroup of individuals who are predisposed to the

> development of retinal tears. Nearly all symptomatic rhegmatogenous retinal

>

> detachments progress to total blindness unless they are repaired

> successfully.

> Timely recognition of the symptoms and signs of retinal detachment is

> important

> to maximize the chances of a favorable surgical outcome and to preserve

> visual

> acuity.

>

>

> Retinal detachments are relatively unusual in the general population – the

> accepted annual incidence figure is approximately 1:10 000.[4]

>

> Yanoff & Duker: Ophthalmology, 3rd ed.

>

> *********************

> As you can see from the above incidence of retinal detachment in the

> general

> population (1:10,000) you would have to suvey possibly 1,000,000 weight

> lifters

> to determine if there is an increased risk of retinal detachment in weight

> lifters vs the general population.

>

> I suspect that the reason for avoiding weight lifting might be because of

> the

> fact that in the process of lifting weights, in particular heavy weights,

> the

> Valsalva maneuver is often unavoidably performed. The valsalva maneuver

> causes

> a sudden rise in central blood pressure which could cause a rise in intra

> ocular

> pressure. In an individual who is susceptible (family hx) this rise in

> intra

> ocular pressure could precipitate a retinal tear an subsequent retinal

> detachment.

>

> You should weigh the benefit of weight lifting vs the risk of retinal

> detachment.

>

> Ralph Giarnella MD

> Southington Ct. USA

>

> ________________________________

> From: Bob Pitatzidis <bobz2335@...>

> Supertraining

> Sent: Sun, February 20, 2011 4:27:05 AM

>

> Subject: Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

>

> Hi Ralf.

>

> My wife began worrying after she talked to her opthomologist, who told her

> not to weight lift.

>

> Now, I do not trust doctors who give theoretical advices and have no

> contact

> with real world training. But I also do not have a documented answer to my

> question:

>

> Is weight lifting a probable cause to retinal detachment, especially with

> aditional contributing factors as heavy myopia and family history?

>

> Bob Pitatzidis

> Thessaloniki, Greece

>

> Re: Retinal detachment due to weightlifting

>

> Well, is weight lifting an additional detrimental factor to retinal

> detachment?

>

> My wife has very high myopia (over 6) and her mother has retinal detachment

> (family history). So we already have 2 factors against her. She weight

> lifts but now she got scared. Is this justified?

>

> =======================

>

>