Recoil and the Retina

M

Moe

New member
In a dicussion at a gun smiths the other day brought out some 458 H&H 416 and the like of African game talk. I learned that those cannons and also 12 gauge shotguns can cause the retina of the eye to detach. I lost a lot of vision of one eye 10 years ago (due to a alder taking half of the cornia off). As well my father has informed me that glycoma runs in the family (grandpa's sight is almost gone). Should I happen to be in a higher risk due to the above reasons, do you think the that I should switch to a 20 gauge or a semi 12 gauge? What would you do? Does this realy happen?

Help!!!

Moe
 
moe, there is a risk to everything we do.
if you are prone to a retinal detachment
you could have one while playing the piano or some other benign activity.
if you want your question solved
have a retinal exam by an eyecare
provider or a retinal specialist.
remember, while we don't have statistical
data for retinal detachments happening
during shooting, thousands of people are
shooting daily without having detachments.boxing, karate, skydiving,
and shooting a 458nitro express would
not be good for someone who has an
existing retinal hole,tear, or disease.
so if you feel uneasy get an opinion
from a qualified professional.happy trails!
 
I've heard the same about the big bores (.375 H&H on up) but not about 12 gauges. As suggested, be safe and ask an eyeball doc...and share his wisdom with us please.

------------------
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
 
Above all opinions, talk to your eye doctor.

I have been warned of the same issue, with an instructor suggesting that one keep the number of 12-guage slug shots below 25 per day MAX. Said instructor does have a partially detached retna and was warned against firing any such high-impact rounds.

if you are prone to a retinal detachment you could have one while playing the piano or some other benign activity.

C'mon, there's a big physiological difference between sitting fairly still pressing keys on a piano, and having your body violently rocked and shocked by firing a 12-guage slug.
 
Moe:

Worked with a man years ago, who had experienced retina detachment. His was "welded" back on, pretty much "fixing" the problem, however he was told, point blank, by his opthomoligist (eyedoctor), "give up rifle shooting". ANY EXPOSURE TO RECOIL IMPACT TO HIS HEAD, FOR HIM, WAS DANGEROUS.

Unhappy about both the situation and advise, he never-the-less complied, and took up serious handgun shooting.

Maybe his contidion was singular, but you pretty much have to make it through your entire life, with the eyes you started with. From what you said, you already have a potential problem. By all means, see a doctor.
 
I had a detached retina 5 years ago that had to be surgically re-attached rather than using laser technolgy. Neither my retina specialist or opthomoligist put any restrictions on my shooting. I went back to trap shooting with my 12 gauge and firing my SKS.

Two years later I had a cataract in the same eye that had to be removed and a permanent implant was put in. This time my opthomoligist advised me to give up any long guns that were more powerful than pistol caliber. Goodbye 12 gauge and SKS. Hello .22LR and 22 Magnum. He did not say anything about big bore handguns so I have a Contender with 30-30, 375 Winchester, and 35 Remington barrels.
 
Tony, I would like to welcome you aboard and thank you for your excellent reply.

Best regards and good safe shooting.

Hank Lampe
 
I suffered (and I do mean suffered) a detached retina in my right (shooting) eye, due to letting a 1911 recoil spring plug hit me in the eye.

I had the corrective surgery, which is no picnic. Dr. has not warned me against shooting, but did tell me not to play the net when playing tennis.

As much as I love to shoot, I'd give it up, if I thought I'd have to go through that godawful operation again.

BTW, my Doc says that nearsighted people are more predisposed to retinal detachment than folks with normal vision. Lots of severely nearsighted people have detached retinas that aren't associated with any event or impact.
 
Having experienced two detached retina in my life, both at age 11 I was taking piano lessons at the time (honest), if you are really concerned I'd go see a specialist.
I had an exam about 6 months ago for the first time in years because I was concerned. I think i cost around $100 and my insurance took care of it.

------------------
As to marksmanship, it is not what you once did, rather it is what you can do on demand.
 
Doggone it, there goes my day.

Here I am happily being slapped around firing 45-70s and 25-06s, plus a 44 Mag. rifle. Not a care in the world. Then I read this thread.

Major Bummer. Four years ago I had each eye go out via detached retinas. I originally had lens implants to correct cataracts. Before the operation I had to watch a video
that warned that in rare cases, the operation could result in detached retinas.
Yeah sure, I'm bullet proof. The left eye lasted four months and the right one five months.

The right one blew so bad I had to go to a Big Name hospital in Atlanta where they had interns come in, in a "Geez, look at this" scenario. I felt like charging admission. I ended up having "buckles" wrapped around my eyeball, which made they slightly egg-shaped and thus shot my long-range vision without glasses.

I guess I have been lucky, but am taking this warning to heart. Either I shoot round ball loads in those lovely big bores, or go to pistols.

BTW, the doc had a neat way of explaining it.
It's like putting a Baggie in a brandy snifter and filling the Baggie with water. When there is a tear in the Baggie, water seeps between it and the glass. Viola, detached retina.

The first indication I had was that it suddenly a bunch of swirling tiny black dots appeared, (painless). Then a tan-colored opaqueness very slowly started to come in left to right. Since I had gone through this drill before, I hotfooted it to the Doc, who said that, if left unattended, I'd have gone blind in that eye.

Don't take this thread lightly folks, or think it can't happen to you. Detached retinas are supposed to come from blows to the head like in boxing, but in my case it was a genetic defect. WalterGAII is dead right. That operation is pure crap, and something I would not want to go through again.
 
First I want to thank everyone who has passed on their experience and knowledge and please keep it comming.

Second I unfortunatly must take alternate advice than that of a doc. Simply put a bad result from the doc would put an end to my military life and there is no way to get around the military health system here in Canada.

Third I have a 12 gauge pump. If I keep it I guess I will have to put a pistol grip on it to shoot without puting a force on my head or shoulder for rabbit and grouse hunting.

Fourth I wonder if my AR15 carbine 5.56mm would kick too much.

Fifth I don't think the 9mm browning or 45 1911 would be a problem as they are hand guns and I don't see a problem with the 22 rifle.

Please let me know what you think of these Ideas.

Moe



[This message has been edited by Moe (edited December 04, 1999).]
 
ok moe, let's review a few things.
1) is there a family history of retinal
detachments?
2) are you extremely nearsighted ie.,
myopia? are you over say -4.00 diopters?
3) since you are canadian you have a
free health care system. well actually
you pay dearly for it through taxes.
at any rate you can seek a specialists'
opinion without paying much. otherwise
if the answers are no to the first two
questions, then don't worry and follow
your hobby with the greatest of zeal and
let the cards fall as they may.
happy trails!
 
Hi Tony.

To answer your questions.
1. There is a case of retinal glycoma which my grandfather has. He has lost 95% of his vision. He was told to tell his childeren to be aware that this problem may run to his offspring and so on. I had almost lost vision in one eye 10 years ago when an alder hit my eye and tore up half my cornia. Having almost lost an eye once is why I am probably more parinoid than most would be about the subject.

2. I am a little near sighted. Not enough that I need glasses to drive but anough to be given the choice for glasses if I wanted them

3. Yes we do have a government funded health insurance plan that would pay for everything up to and including specialists. Unfortunatly I'm in the military, and that means going through a military doc first. That just can't happen. I'm an aviation tech that makes very good dough doing what I do and I won't give that up. So what I'm doing is probing you guys for experience and advice. As well I am searching the web sights for a medical connection between retinal detachments and glycoma.

Thanks again Tony and please keep it comming.

Thirsty for answers
Moe
 
moe, you can relax. glaucoma is pressure
incompatibility with the optic nerve.
many, many people who have glaucoma never
develop a retinal detachment. they
developed retinal detachments in some
cases, when they were put on pilocarpine
which is an old glaucoma medication
not used as much anymore. the cornea
which you had damaged will not cause
a retinal detachment. i think you are
safe as any of the rest of us. you could
call a military doctor of optometry or
ophthalmology and ask their opinion.
by the way, i am a doctor of optometry.
i'm allowed to do everything except i am
not trained in eye surgery. i shoot
a 44mag and onetime i rapid fired the
revolver all six times. it was as if someone punched me with a boxing glove
six times. truthfully, i don't do this
often and don't plan on doing it again
unless i must. if you have flashes of
light followed with multicolored lights
and many floaters then that is a possible
retinal problem. i have floaters but
i don't have any retinal holes or detachments. use your good judgement and
proceed with reasonable caution. that's
all anyone can do. bottom line, if you suspect a problem seek professional evaluation otherwise, enjoy life and
pursue your hobby. happy trails!
 
Thank you Tony for explaining that glcoma and retinal detatchments are not related. I also wish to apologize for not realizing earlier that you were an eye doc.

You have helped me greatly.

I think I will try to get some black ducks this weekend comming. Life is good.

Thank you

Moe
 
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