Admins, please feel free to remove this post if not appropriate (thank you).

Hello all,

Have recently undergone surgery for detached retina. Had 3 of these surgeries and and the last one appears to have gone well. Will need a cataract removed as a result of the vitrectomy I had in a few months. The question that I have is......is there anyone out there that went back to riding after having such surgery? Doctor says no amusement park rides, no jostling my head from contact sports (which at almost 60 years old isn't happening anyway). So I am torn if I should just consider myself blessed for 40 years of safe riding and give it up. I know that I could always have impact from an accident on the bike, but realistically could have a car accident or fall down the stairs could to the same thing.

Anyway, would appreciate any input you good offer. I know its a decision that is totally up to me. Also starting a separate thread on selling the bike options as I am going to be toying with that after a while depending on my decision.

My regards, and thank you.

Jim

 

I had a detached retina about two years ago. Healed great. I've also had one cataract surgery about three years ago and have the other one scheduled Dec. 27th. My doctor knows I ride and never cautioned against it, so I've been riding (well, not much this year, but that was due to an inflamed wrist [arthritus]). Getting old is not for the weak!

Interestingly enough, my detached retina showed up on Monday after a 90 mile ride on Sunday. No mishaps of any kind on the ride. The doctors have no idea what caused it. BTW, if anybody reading this ever wakes up with a blind area in an eye, get to a doctor immediately! I didn't see the doctor until Friday and it could have cost me the vision in my left eye.

 

I've had a detachment in each eye...the one in the left eye was quite serious according to the surgeon. Anyway, after surgery for the left eye I was told not to ride for 6 months. (That was an awful 6 months, by the way.) After surgery on the right eye, which was not as bad as the other detachment, I had to wait a month. After that they said ride like I always do. Neither time did they suggest I avoid any particular activity. I am aware of the risks - as minimal as they are - and chose to ride. If your doctors say it's OK to ride, you ought to ride. Just my 2 cents. Like you, I'm "older" (closer to 70 than 60) and don't get involved in many activities that involve bonking my gourd, so what the heck...I ride as much as I can.

Good luck!
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Very true! I waited a couple days on my first one simply because I had no idea what was going on. The surgeon told me how close I came to losing sight in that eye. Scared the dickens out of me.

My second detachment was very minor. I had begun noticing a very small dark spot on the very periphery of my vision. I mean waaaaay on the periphery. In fact it took me a couple weeks to convince myself it was really there and not just my imagination or paranoia due to my first detachment. Went to the eye doctor and she looked in there and said she found nothing. Due to my history, though, she suggested I see the retinal specialist anyway. He looked in there...and looked some more...and then looked even more. When he was done he leaned back and said, "You have the world's smallest detached retina. I'm surprised you could see it."

He had me take a vision field test to help with his diagnosis. It didn't show any sign of vision loss because it was such a small detachment. He told me that I was the only patient he ever had that was "smarter" than their high dollar Humphrey Vision Field Analyzer. He fixed that eye up and I see fine now.
.

 

In reading up on the subject it would appear avoiding stress like sudden stops or jerky motion is a must for the first few weeks to several months. Check with your doctor, but I wouldn't be surprised if s/he says to take it easy for a few months while the surgery heals before riding. Good luck and I hope this is the last time you have to deal with this.

 

It sucks as I have both eyes put back together. My night vision is terrible so I try not to ride much after dark. Both of mine were done back in 1996. I followed the six month rule.
At 67 seven years old I am still riding but all my friends say I ride like an old man.

 

Interested to know what all of you felt caused your detach. I had the coke bottles all my life and had Lasik in 2002 at 46. 6 years later, cataracts and a year later IOL done. I've always believed my later issues were caused by the cataract surgery disturbing the structure of my eye. Within in two years I had episodes of many floaters, a retina tear, then a partial detach. I feel I've recovered well from that procedure. All of that was 6 years ago. I go every 6 months for exams just to stay on top of it all. My retina dr has said when ever you want a vitrectomy we can do it. I'm like that's OK I've had enough procedures that I can deal with the floaters. The floaters disrupt the vision in my left eye maybe 10% of the time, about 50% in my right. Honestly it can get scary riding sometimes when both eyes have the floaters in the line of sight, even if it is only a couple seconds. IDK it all stinks

Wishing everyone in this thread all the best of luck with the eyes

 

Absolutely imperative advice! I had a detach in my left eye. Did the whole gas bubble thing and keeping my head at an angle for almost an entire week. Couldn't travel or fly for work while that bubble was still in my eye. This ALL went down two weeks before Americade three years ago. Should've seen me trying to explain THAT to the doctors.
Anyway, one doctor said I should be fine right after having multiple laser surgeries to re-attach the retina. The other doctor was way more cautious and said I should wait at least a month or so after the surgery. I elected to wait. Your eyesight is nothing to screw with!

I'm still considered a high risk and need to see my surgeon every 4 months but since then, he's pretty much given me the green light on everything.

Like mentioned though, if you have ANY loss of vision, that's nothing to screw with, get to a doctor immediately!!!

 

I am the OP. Thanks to you guys for responding. Its good therapy for me to be talking about it I think - LOL.

Mine happened after my annual motorcycle vacation, like the day after I got home. I had flashes of light, millions of floaters followed by a shadow. Had first surgery in office where they freeze the retina and put in a gas bubble. Next day at followup Dr. found another spot and hit it again (second time hurt like hell). Laid on right side for a week (15 minutes up/two hours down). Noticed a grey shadow 3 pm on a thursday, was admitted to hospital immediately with vitrectomy surgery and retina repair at 6. Luckily I hadn't eaten lunch so they were able to expedite. My macula wasn't detached yet but it was close and tear was progressing. After this I was on my right side with head turned into the pillow for 3 weeks (15 minutes up/two hours down). Week 4 I was 2 hours up/2 hours down. After that I only had to maintain positioning while sleeping. Found myself exhausted trying to get back into the swing of things again.

Fast forward to today 11 weeks post-op ==> Had a long lasting gas bubble and is still present but almost gone. Full field of vision in eye but blurry. The gas they used creates a fast forming cataract which is the reason for the hazy vision. I will be looking at cataract surgery consultation as long as everything works out, most likely in a few months.

OMG what an experience this has been. Healing going well but every little nuance with this has me on edge. Been back a few times to Dr. as I thought I was having issues but he says normal recovery so far.

Again appreciate the responses and knowing I am not alone. Take care, Jim

 

Nobody on here knows what you should do. People have retinal detachments for different reasons, and they all have different prognoses, and risk factors. You may have degenerations that leave you prone to more detachments. Or maybe you’re really pretty safe and your Doctor is just covering his ***.

If if you don’t like the recommendation of your retinal specialist, get a second opinion from another one. I’m sure if you found one that rides a Harley his advice would be different than one who drives a Volvo.