Swimming after Retinal Detachment?

Yeah, I know more about this than I'd like to. My daughter had this last year, and after a year, it failed. So had a repair a few weeks ago......which failed. Back to try to fix that on Monday. Scleral buckle or vitrectomy? If victrectomy, gas or oil bubble? The types of surgeries are completely and totally different, and the post surgery activities and timelines are completely and totally different. Guessing by what you said, you had a vitrectomy with gas. In my daughter's case, she first had the buckle, which seemed to be fine for nearly a year. No idea why it detached. For that surgery, no swimming for a month, as the nature of the surgery made the eye much more prone to infection from water. But there were no concerns for any type of straining, so she was able to do intense dryland during that period. This time around, since the buckle failed, she had a victrectomy. Unfortunately, since there was a lot of scarring, they had to do the oil, rather than the gas. The nature of this surgery meant that she was fine to swim again after just a couple of weeks, but only in pools. However, no straining. That means no lifting weights or drylands beyond cardio based ones. Also, can't be on her back so no backstroke. I am under the impresssion that this will be until the fluid is removed, 3 months post surgery. Unfortunately for her, the initial victrectomy failed right away. Before any activity resumed. The reason was that we were not clear on head positioning. Were told emphatically "no lying on back," but that the side is fine. Unfortunately, we did not get teh message that she was to lie on her right side, so she lied on her left side. And the bubble was not positioned properly, so it didn't take. Buckle took a year to fail. Why it did, we don't know. They are successful 90% of the time, and I know of no mitigating factors for the other 10%, other than severe myopia (i.e. -11 diopters in her case). But she had been swimming from a month post operation until 2 months prior to failure (due to pool closings). She had been doing very intesne drylands for those two months, but again, no indication that is why. I would think that for the vitrectomy, be it gas (presumably in your case), or oil, the added substance increases internal pressure in the eye, and I thin that the doctor said the risk is glaucoma, rather than another detachment. For my daughter, it will be 3 months until the fluid is removed. For you, I'm guessing maybe the argon takes about the same amount of time to be absorbed? I assume you will be having routine eye exams where they measure the pressure. So I would just go with that. But nothing we have seen or heard gives any indication that swimming would increase any risk, once the eye has healed from the operation. And again, with the vitrectomy, the eye heals much, much more quickly, so 2 weeks should be good to go (also the eye will be at a MUCH lower risk to infection should it get wet).

I don't mind replying here. I actually put up a post last year when this first happened hoping to find someone who had been through this. So in the off chance someone tries to find info, they might be able to. That said, let me be as unambiguous as possible. I am just a parent, an engineer, etc. I am NOT a physician, I am NOT an expert. My business partner's brother is a retired eye surgeon, so I was able to glean some insight from that. But for anyone reading this, do NOT go to your doctor and say "I read on this random forum, this random dude who sounded really educated about this said........" You can not only go blind in the eye, but you can actually lose the eye (I'll get to that) if you don't follow medical advice. So, that out of the way..... Daughter is 15 (14 when the first one happened). Both she and her twin sister are very, very myopic, so given the shape of the eye, RD's are not uncommon. They will both be seeing a retina specialist every 6 months I guess in perpetuity because of it. They are -10 to -11 diopters, which is kind of off the charts. To put it in perspective, -5 diopters is 20/400. So yeah, they are bad. She was at IU swim camp when it happened, but none of the tell-tale signs exhibited themselves. It was a few days later that she commented her eye was "dark" and hard to see out of. Took her in, and yep, detached retina. When she had the buckle, they did tack down some spots on her good eye. So far her sister hasn't had an issue, but she has a spot that we are watching very closely (fluid buildup under the retina can cause a separation - the fluid usually goes away, but it hasn't). So on the buckle, the pressure in the eye isn't affected. I am guessing that that is why lifting was not an issue. But nearly the whole eye is exposed during the entire procedure. As I gather, the sclera is cut, the buckle put in place, and then the sclera is sutured back around it. that part of the eye with that procedure takes a very long time to heal, and the problem with water is that if any gets back there, it can make its way under the buckle, and cause an infection. If that happens, then they eye may be lost. I did not know that at the time this happened, I just assumed that the doctor thought "swimming" meant horsing around, rather than wearing goggles, etc. But once that was fully explained, I understood. But again, no problem with weights or intense drylands. On the vitrectomy, only a small incision is made through the eye, and all of the work is inside. That incision will heal very quickly, so exposure to water after only a couple of weeks is not a problem. But, there is added "stuff" in there. And here is where I don't know as much. I believe that that increases the pressure, but I am uncertain. I know, as you do, that where either the argon or the silicone oil goes is absolutely critical for keep the retina pushed up against the wall of the eye. I don't know if straining may change the shape of the eye, which may lift teh retina, and allow the argon or silicone to get behind it. But I do know that it is very critical that it stay in place. That is why many people deal with what you did, the need to life face down for most of the day. Perhaps age is how Abigail didn't have to do that. While swimming, she is doing longer sets, and not doing the underwaters as much as she usually does (she has incredible underwaters). She doesn't do the full bob down to 12 feet when they do that drill. But, she is to NOT spend time on her back during this. Which kind of stinks, it is a very good stroke for her (she has a Winter Junior cut in it, as well as Fly). Of course, we get to start over again tomorrow when she goes back to re-do the re-do (3rd time the charm I hope!). Again, the reason hers failed teh second time was because she was laying on the wrong side. FWIW, we are travelling to a children's specialist and MD-PhD for the surgery. Did not on the buckle, but since it failed, he referred us to a more specialized expert (pediatric).

Hmm, I better clarify what I meant by "swimming" although I did ask about wearing goggles and have mentioned numerous times what type of workouts I did every day. She still trains hard, she just backs off on the underwaters because she'll go nearly 15M on the start, and then go 12-13 yards each of the next couple of turns, and still go 10 yards on the last turn of a 200. But she is afraid that she strains holding her breath. That's really the only thing that would be less hard. That and, of course, the team is just getting back in the water, and has only been able to do 4 one hour workouts per week. Hope I didn't mislead you into thinking she isn't able to push herself. But when she had the buckle, which kept her out longer, it was 4 weeks post-op, versus 2 for the vitrectomy. Given that you are 2 months in, I would expect that you'd be fine. But yeah, you may want to make sure the surgeon knows that your training is (presumably) some pretty intense and hard setts, similar to Crossfit or HIIT or whatever, and not just lollygagging swimming 1,000 yards continuously in 30 minutes. Just to make sure you aren't straining yourself more than he/she'd be comfortable with.

Hmm, I better clarify what I meant by "swimming" although I did ask about wearing goggles and have mentioned numerous times what type of workouts I did every day. I am so sorry to hear that your daughter has another surgery scheduled and hope she sails thru it with flying colors. My vision was perfect prior to the RD. However, I wouldn't doubt that the 3 Lasik prcoedures I've had done, the 2 cataract surgeries i had (paying a good deal extra for IOL lenses that are "useless" now) and several YAG procedures contributed, although no one ever mentioned that possibility to me. I seriously doubt I would've had so many, but that's water under the bridge. It's been almost 3 months since surgery, but all pools are closed and truthfully, I desperately need to swim, but am not comfortable yet, even if they open. It's not worth the risk to lose 3 months of being able to only do light cleaning and walking. Not to mention face down again. Please keep me posted on your daughter's surgery outcome.

67King, thank you so much for such a thorough explanation. You certainly have done your research. When this happened to me, I was playing tennis, saw a shower of specks which I ignored, since I've had floaters for 20+ years. Then the dreaded "curtain" 2 days later, found me at Retina dr. and surgery next day. In a county where COVID cases were very high, and nothing was open other than emergencies. I had the buckle, long acting gas bubble and vitrectomy. At 2 month check up, pressure was perfect, and retina looked great. I am taking no chances. I had to lie face down 24 hours a day with 10 min. breaks every hour for 8 days. The hardest surgical recovery I ever had, especially since I worked out 2 to 3 hours a day and only sat to eat. How old is your daughter? Did she have trauma to her eye? How is she handling this? You can PM me if you'd like. I am more than happy to chat with her as well. I know how frightening this can be. I also know how little info we are given after surgery. I go to every appt with a list of questions or concerns. I've done enough research to know if my RD was due to aging, thinning of retina, etc., it could happen in the other eye, but I also know there's a 90% success rate first time around regarding my RD eye. I was told no lifting more than 10 lbs until 3 month check up, so weight lifting is out -- gyms are closed anyway, but I can't do anything involving laying flat or bending over. Ugghh. Very interesting about backstroke. I plan to ask about that. I also did a lot of underwater swimming (dolphin kick practice, etc.).

Please keep me posted on your daughter's surgery outcome. Went well. Was easier than expected. But was more painful for my daughter, so that wasn't so great. But we'll be back in 10 days for the next follow-up. Should know more then.

It was another vitrectomy with oil. The pain was really only from so much work on the eye in a short period of time. First victrectomy was fine. The buckle was horrible.......I think he used two, he indicated a large buckle, and I think he said "doubled belted," though the phrasing seemed to be delivered with a little humorous intent. Anesthesia this time around was a bit worse, more nausea. This time was also in the adult hospital, rather than children's, due to scheduling. She liked the bedside manor of the children's side much better.

That's good news, except for pain. I was very lucky to have no pain at all. What did she have done this time?

67King, how is your daughter doing? Is she still having pain? Doing great, thanks for asking! We go back to Vandy on Friday for next follow-up.

67King, how is your daughter doing? Is she still having pain?