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Did my swimming goggles cause posterior vitreous detachment?

I have what might sound a funny question.  I am in my late 30s and have recently been diagnosed with posterior vitreous detachment, where a small portion of the vitreous humour in my right eye has detached from the retinal wall.  This has caused a slightly grey and blurry patch just medial to the centre of my right field of vision.  The PVD became noticeable tabout 6 weeks ago.  I have seen a specialist who inspected my posterior retinal wall in great detail and was very confident that there was no detachment in place at this time (although warned me to be hypervigilant, which I will be).

About six months ago, I started swimming seriously (for about an hour per session, three or four times per week).  I started wearing swimming googles and they are quite tight (I find that wearing them any more loosely lets water leak in).  They normally press my eyes in slightly different directions, such that when I get done with my swim, I have a slight diplopia (double vision) for about 10-15 minutes afterward.  It eventually self-corrects.

Is there any chance in the world that the tightness of the goggles may have brought about the PVD?  Or am I drawing a connection where one might not exist?

I only ask because I do not want to continue swimming if it is damaging my eyes.
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Avatar universal
vitreoys detachment  not a part of aging - its from bot taking care of our eyes! we use mostly central vision and do not use our eyes aa ancestors did in Nature and life. we stare at computers and cell phones, tvs, books, and like me music notes day in and out!!! This damages the eyes! not aging. we need eye exercizes for prevention! look up Meier Schneider Vision for Life!!!
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Avatar universal
vitreoys detachment  not a part of aging - its from bot taking care of our eyes! we use mostly central vision and do not use our eyes aa ancestors did in Nature and life. we stare at computers and cell phones, tvs, books, and like me music notes day in and out!!! This damages the eyes! not aging. we need eye exercizes for prevention! look up Meier Schneider Vision for Life!!!
Helpful - 0
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Avatar universal
I’m not a doctor but I recently had the same experience.  I was wearing my goggles too tight and after I noticed flashes and floaters in right eye.  Got eye checked and sure enough newly developed PVD.
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1 Comments
Still no reason not to wear swim goggles or masks
Avatar universal
I agree that it is unlikely that the mask caused the PVD, and there are other goggle choices.  Look for a swim mask -- not as big as the scuba kind, but one that suctions to your forehead and lower cheek.  Since it is larger, it will cause more drag, but that would only matter if you are competing.  Even if you are competing, you could practice with a larger mask and use the other goggles for meets.
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Avatar universal
Your PVD is likely just a result of age (not uncommon for someone who is almost 40, especially if you are nearsighted, although more common for older folks).  The goggles pushing on your eye could potentially compound the vitreous detachment, but all in all, it is a normal part of aging and is due to the vitreous liquefying.  

I would recommend a new pair of swim goggles that do not push on your eyes like that.  Get a good pair, then swim away.  You should be fine.
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