Vitreous Synersis

[ig77]

I am a 40yo male. I had a head/neck injury about 3 months back. After a month of the injury I started seeing floaters. I saw several opthalmologists and they said that the eyes look fine. I don't have flashes but do experience light "flickers" (it's similar to when the light bulbs go on and off due to electrical issues)

I saw a retinal specialist who said that I have vitreous Synersis which will most likely lead to PVD and/or Retinal tear/detachment. I was devastated having to go through this when I am relatively young.

Anything I can do to slow down the process? Anything to prevent it from going down the path of vitreous/retinal detachment? He said that the other eye will likely soon follow the same process.

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

Very very few cause problems at any age, those that do: retinal holes/tears,  retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage.

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

Your activities should be determined by your retina MD who has looked in your eyes and examined you.  Flying not problem unless gas in eye.   Weight generally mild to moderate high rep okay.  Powerlifting to failure not.  Cardio walking fine running need to ask

[ig77]

Thank you! Any thought on possible complications with PVD at a younger age

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

No it would not cause the tinnitus or twitch (myokymia).   Syneresis usually leads to PVD but no way to predict when.  I don't understand the 'clean' vs nonclean  PVD    flickering of light can be a a form a photopsia or light reflex from vitreous movement.

[ig77]

By "clean", I assume what he meant was, when at a younger age, some one has a PVD due to trauma, it doesn't easily detach (maybe because the vitreous is not completely liquified?) and tugs on the retina more often which could lead to complications.

[ig77]

Also, do I need to hold off on any activities (flying, bending down, lifting weights, cardio)?

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

Vitreous syneresis (liquification of the gel like vitreous) is a normal part of aging. happens to everyone sooner or later.  Not a big deal.   Posterior vitreous detachment due to syneresis is also a normal part of aging by age 50 one in 2 people have some degree of PVD by age 70 its 3 out of 4.  Neither one of those lead to RD with any frequently.  The incidence of RD in general populations without special risk factors is only one in about 10,000 to 15,000.   Head and neck injuries rarely lead to RD unless the eye was directly struck (e.g. baseball, fist).  I doubt the retina specialist said it was 'highly likely" this would lead to RD and suggest you call and ask for clarification. have you eyes checked annually by Eye MD.  Sooner if sudden increase of floaters, flash of light or loss of peripheral vision. Seen ENT about rinning in ears (tinnitus).

[ig77]

Thanks Dr. Hagan. I never had any of these symptoms before my injury.

Will Vitreous Synersis always lead to a PVD? If so, how long does it take before I am diagnosed with PVD? If not, anything I can do to not lead to a PVD?

The doc said that at an older age, there is a clean detachment of the vitreous, but since I am 40 years old and relatively younger,  it might take a longer time for the vitreous to detach and it might not be a clean one. Is that a correct understanding?

Also, is the flicker symptom same as flashes? My understanding of flashes are like flashes from a camera. I've been experiencing a flicker (similar to turning off the lights and turning it back on) and it lasts for less than a second. Can this potentially be a neurological symptom (since I have the tinnitus and eye twitching)

[ig77]

I forgot to mention that my other symptoms have been eye twitching and ringing in the ear (both on the same side that I see the light flicker). Are they somehow related?