Heavy Recoil and Retinal Detachment

[Matt304]

"It will detach your retinas."

I have heard this saying used to describe heavy recoiling firearms before. But I had always thought that "retinal detachment" was a term which was only made up by folks.

Then my father told me he was watching a show which was talking about the old big-bores, and how the shooters would suffer from headaches and retinal detachment. I've felt the headaches.

How much of an issue is this in reality? Has anyone ever experienced such a symptom from heavy recoil?

I'm wondering if I should watch out for too much recoil too often.

 

[General Geoff]

I can't see how retinal detachment could result from heavy recoil; That would mean that your head (or your eyes) are jerking back just as violently as the rifle. If that were the case, nobody would ever suffer from scope eye.

 

[moooose102]

i cant even imagine how many shots of any standard magnum rifles you would have to shoot to get retinal detachment. even if you were shooting something like a 700 nitro express, the recoil pads they have nowdays are great. in the old days, the only recoil pad was your shoulder! even my dads pre 64 .300 H&H just had a steel butplate. it didnt make it comfortable to shoot, but back in those days, that was not a priority. now days, anything over a 30-30 comes standard with some kind of recoil pad. and if that isnt enough, we have muzzle brakes and/or magna-ports. nowdays, you would probably have to be shooting a 7 pound .50BMG repeatedly in order to get retinal detachment. and if you are actualy dumb enough to shoot something like that more than once, you would probably derserve it!

 

[Eric F]

you can have all that heavy recoil stuff. I shot a 600ne once and had a headache for 5 days and then broke a tooth on my 50-90 sharps and that was on black powder. detaching a retna, well Its possible but not too likely.

Ar far as heavy recoil and health go, be careful it will eventually cause serious damage id enough recovery time is not given. Those headaches are not natural.

 

[Thumper_6119]

The only time I have heard of retinal detachment was in diabetics, and it had nothing to do with shooting. (Seriously).

 

[revjen45]

People with severe myopia are more prone to retinal detachment. My eye care professional told me to avoid any activity that involves impact to the head (like, duh). It is a definite possibility from repeated impact.

 

[MiddleAgedKen]

People with severe myopia are more prone to retinal detachment. My eye care professional told me to avoid any activity that involves impact to the head (like, duh). It is a definite possibility from repeated impact.

+1. My optometrist told me the same thing. So much for kendo.

Also: LASIK corrects one's vision, but does not change the overall shape of the eyeball, which is what puts the additional strain on the retina. I had LASIK just over a year ago and it's great, but I'm still not supposed to get hit repeatedly in the melon.

Another warning sign to watch for is "the lightning," a jagged streak when one sneezes violently or something like that. I didn't know what my optometrist meant by it...until it happened to me once. Scary.

 

[LaEscopeta]

People with severe myopia are more prone to retinal detachment. My eye care professional told me to avoid any activity that involves impact to the head (like, duh). It is a definite possibility from repeated impact.

I'm guessing if you have the risk factors for detaching a retina (very near sighted, cataracts, ultra violet light exposure, middle age or older) then heavy recoil could cause it or maybe make it happen sooner than it would otherwise. If you don’t have the risk factors I’m thinking heavy recoil alone is not going to tear you eye apart (I’m not a doctor, don’t play one on TV, FWIW etc.)

Getting hit directly in the eye can detach a retina, even for those without any factors.

My experience, started shooting a 12 gage in middle age after not shooting since I was a kid. 2 ½ years later had a detachment. Don’t know if it is a coincidence or not but I got a .357 rifle and mostly shoot that now.

Another warning sign to watch for is "the lightning,"

+1. Early warning signs are flashes of lights and “floaters”, strings of bubbles that seem to raise up. Also having you eye glass prescription suddenly get stronger. Warning signs that you need to get to the emeracgecy RIGHT NOW are loses vision in one location (a brown spot appears) or seeing spider webs.

 

[anythingshiny]

during an eye exam 2 years ago my provider stated that i had some scarring from a possible retinal detachment somewhere in my history...we discussed the risk factors...

myopic, 40,-ish, active and somewhat reckless ( mtn biking, kendo, and yes shooting) can cause or exacerbate an existing condition...

he didnt say stop...but said be aware of the issue.

so i would think yes, a long history of repeated 'trauma' to the head could do it.

 

[bigfoot311]

+1. Early warning signs are flashes of lights and “floaters”, strings of bubbles that seem to raise up.

im only 23 and i have those "floaters", maybe i should go see an optometrist...

theyre probably from the years of playing hockey and many concussions ive had...

 

[PotatoJudge]

If you're having these problems go see an opthamologist, not an optometrist.

 

[Gaffer]

As one who has suffered what is called a macular hole in the retina let me say you need to see an eye specialist if you have such flashes. Even after surgery and return to what I call street vision I cannot use iron sights well as the distortion is severe enough to destroy the definition one needs see well the top of the front post. Take good care of your eyes if you are a shooter because if you damage your retina your good shooting days are over. I am an example!

 

[La Pistoletta]

I have some floaters and a dark "pretzel" that follows my sight, some kind of anomaly. Haven't begun shooting yet though.

I am a bit nearsighted but I've never had it examined, nor worn glasses. I'm thinking it might be due to excessive computer and video game use since I was very little, though. 21 now. If I'm outside for a long time and don't focus on nearby objects, I can actually start to read things at a distance that isn't normally possible on a day when I'm only indoors.

Can that occur if you have "true" myopia?

 

[Matt304]

I'm guessing if you have the risk factors for detaching a retina (very near sighted, cataracts, ultra violet light exposure, middle age or older) then heavy recoil could cause it or maybe make it happen sooner than it would otherwise.

That's great.

I am 22 and I am severely nearsighted. Like 8" out and I lose all focus.

I can remember seeing those floaters for years. Probably since I was 6 or 7 if I remember correctly. I did a little reading on them last night, and found that the floaters you can see are actually red blood cells which have leaked into the eye.

I just started shooting with recoil above the 90ft-lb range, and noticed the headaches after shooting (I am 155lbs, it moves me pretty well). I was getting ready to take recoil quite a bit higher. Now I'm wondering if I should stop and reconsider this.

:banghead:

 

[Cosmoline]

I know two local shooters who have had to back off because of this issue. It's very real and does happen. If you have diabetes or other risk factors it's worth consulting an MD eye doctor.