Bad eyes, retinal detachment, and recoil.

[Mauser lover]

Okay, here is the issue. My girlfriend has REALLY bad eyes, her ophthalmologist says that she is at a risk of detached retinas. Can she shoot trap with me, or is that risking it?

Probably it won't be very much, and we will be using cheap Wal-Mart slow lead stuff. You know, the cheap low brass stuff. However, it is 12 ga, and I have heard many horror stories about recoil detaching retinas. I have never heard anything about light 12 ga. loads, but I also have never come across any information about shooters that have -7.5 prescription glasses.

So... should I take her, or not?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Without absolute clearance from the eyedoc, I wouldn't...

 

[blarby]

I'm with fred on this one.

One day at the line is not worth the risk.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I know a dedicated trap shooter that had a detached retina. He was told recoil was likely the cause.

 

[DaleCooper51]

Those cheap bulk pack loads recoil quite a bit.

If she gets the ok from the doc, I would look at loading 3/4 oz light loads. They are plenty enough to break 16 yard targets.

Do you have a skeet range around? A .410, while challenging has next to no recoil.

 

[dprice3844444]

negative.don't even chance it. it she goes blind,you will feel very bad about it.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Both RST and polyWad have low recoil shells, a heavier autoloader woul also help.

But as others have said only after the Dr. says it is OK.

 

[oneounceload]

Why aren't you asking her doctor instead of us? This is HIS/HER call

 

[MSgtEgress]

Dale is on the right track, I have a Remington 1100 in .410 and it has as close to zero recoil. A 28ga semi might be ok too but I don't have one (yet). If you reload it will cost about 3.00 a box for 1/2 oz target loads. I shoot 20-23 on the skeet field with it regularly. ( I hope to get a straight soon). I would definitely not risk it with anything larger, eyes are precious.

 

[Mauser lover]

allrighty! Thanks.

 

[billvau]

As an eye doc, I have some insight into this. I have occasionally mentioned to people that are highly myopic, i.e. -7.50, that there is a slightly greater risk of retinal detachment because of the increased axial length of their eye and the subsequent retinal tension. I would not, however, in that example , recommend they avoid reasonable activities, including shooting a shotgun. Now perhaps she had other issues, like lattice degeneration that would put her at greater risk. You really would need to ask her eye doctor if he was just making a casual statement that her significant myopia put her at a statistically greater risk of detachment or if there was more to his comment. I am betting he will say that he is not concerned about shotgun shooting.

In my practice, virtually all the retinal detachments I have seen have not been preceded by trauma or impact. Obviously people like boxers are at greater risk but our retinas are fairly loosely attached and detachments can happen to anybody and without warning. However, there are specific retinal defects that can increase the risk. The doc could easily answer the question if there were retinal weak spots that were a threat.

 

[Mauser lover]

Yeah, we will do that. Thanks!
Hopefully it is fine, but if not, she likes handguns anyway...