Powerlifting?

[rward80]

Is there any danger for me to continue my power lifting routine since I have an ongoing PVD and lattice degeneration and three surgeries for retinal tears due to the PVD?  My retina specialist says no harm, and to keep doing what I am doing what I am doing.  I have read about that heavy lifting can cause glaucoma.  Is that true?

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

Most commonly greater than 6 diopters of myopia is considered "high myopia".

JCH MD

[rward80]

One more question Dr. Hagan.  What is a high myope? I am -4.00in my left eye and -4.50 in my right eye.  Is that considered a high myope?  Thank you.

[rward80]

Take it how you want to.  My retina specialist said. "Go heavy or go home," he then smiled and patted me on the back.  When I asked him what that statement meant, he said keep to living my life as I was before the surgeries and diagnosis of lattice degeneration.  I have been doing as he said for the past week or so, and life has been so much more pleasant.  As always, thank you Dr. Hagan for the quick response.  I bet your patients do not know how lucky they are to be under your care.

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

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[Cynomad]

thanks!

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

In a high myope I would avoid power lifting, straining, head inverted exercises. Running, walking, swimming,  light weights using repetitions would likely be okay on individual basis

A study done in the past of retina surgeons indicated that almost all of them allowed retinal detachment patients to return to running/jogging after the RD was healed.

JCH MD

[Cynomad]

I have also conflicting views. i only do running, step machines & weight machines , NO free weights. When i exercise I try to "isolate" my eyes from pressure & effort.
Views from various doctors range from do no exercise at all to just do mild running to do anything you like. (Highly myopic -18).
Doctor, what do you think?

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

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[flossy93]

I was told by a retina specialist that doing any activity involving the Valsalva maneuver (closing your throat and straining heavily to lift high amounts of weights, heavy equipment or boxes, etc) could lead to retinal bleeding.

He said 'if you're straining so hard that your face turns red' it's usually accompanied by a brief increase in blood pressure in the head, which is dangerous if you are predisposed to bleeding in the retina.  Basically if the blood vessels are under too much pressure, blood or blood fluids can leak out of the vessel wall, or capillaries can burst and lead to retinal bleeding.

This doesn't apply to 'normal' aerobic exercise when one's face might be reddened, just to the holding-your-breath heavy exertion.  Of course, if you don't hold your breath or close your throat when lifting, this isn't a risk.

If you aren't prone to retinal bleeding, congratulations, and perhaps you will not need to ever worry about this.  If you do have that risk, you might research your technique to make sure it's not increasing your intra-cranial blood pressure and risking damage due to bleeding.

Here's a more detailed description of Valsalva retinopathy for any interested parties:  http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1228106-overview

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

Only your retina specialist or your comprehensive ophthalmologist can advise you and you indicate they have already done so on the activity.

The thing about heavy lifting causing glaucoma is totally wrong.  

JCH MD