PVD and Long Air Travel

[Jerry244]

  I'm highly myopic  (-15 ) amd have  lived my life worried about Retinal Detachment,. Recently , I had a major PVD first in one eye and now in both. The ever moving  strings / floaters don't really bother me. However, I travel frequently  (long hauls to Asia 16-30 hours of flight time. Last month 3X to Asia). I was scheduled to leave  for Asia that week . After the PVD  and discussing it with my retinal doctor, I opted not to go. Most places I travel have excellent medical care (Seoul. HK, Shanghai, etc ). HOWEVER, I'm terrified of retinal detachment in flight. Does anyone else in this forum have any experience or guidance? I'm afraid ( and worried) that  now I might need to give up my job which I absolutely love.

[Maryst]

Such a good question. I am wondering the same thing. While I want to live my life, I also am afraid to not be able to get to a good retina specialist fast, should it happen again. I guess it would be unlikely ( or extremely unlucky) for the problem to happen exactly in flight, and there is some time to get to a doctor( most often).

[Ne55an]

I have a PVD for the first time a few days ago. I had booked to fly overseas in 2 weeks time with my GF. I am petrified especially if we get carried away sexually? Will it be safe?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

A first time PVD requires an urgent exam by an ophthalmologist especially if the person is: highly nersighted, has had cataract/IOL surgery, has a family history of retinal detachment, a history of severe trauma to the eye. Get on the phone and get in to see a eye MD ophthalmologist or eye MD retina specialist as soon as possible.

[TOM3334]

I have the same question, I have to travel sometime per year 15hour also.
Did you get answer to this question?could you please tell me more about your experience traveling and PVD?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Live you life. Air travel is not a problem (unless a person has had intraocular surgery and gasses were put in the eye). Also turbulent air is not a likely cause of an RD. See the world.

JCH MD