Detached Retina = end of fighting?

[Colby18***]

Here's the story last week, I was sparring MMA with 6 oz gloves and got rocked pretty hard. Got hit right on the left temple, dropped me and everything turned a light green for about 2 seconds or so. This has only happened one other time in my life it was when I was 14 and doing playground boxing and got rocked on that same side and dropped me and everything turned green for a good 30 seconds and i couldn

 

[tamburello]

Detached retinas are career-ending injuries. And why were you sparring hard enough for you to get rocked like that? And with MMA gloves?

 

[Colby18***]

4 weeks out we usually spar pretty hard, and then lighten up as the fight comes closer cause we dont want injuries and what not.

And that is the answer i was afraid of..

 

[Vovchanchyn Fan]

I wouldn't give up hope until after you get a more definitive analysis. It really depends how far along its gotten, but there do seem to be a number of treatment options.

I found this in Wikipedia which may help:

Trauma is a less frequent cause. Activities which cause direct trauma to the eye (boxing, kick-boxing, karate and others) can cause a particular type of retinal tear called a retinal dialysis. This type of tear can be detected and treated before it develops into a retinal detachment. For this reason governing bodies in some of these sports require regular ophthalmic examination.

So, if thats what you've got, they make it sound like its treatable at least...anyway, hope things turn out for the best at your next appt.

 

[Vovchanchyn Fan]

Oh, here you go - detached retinas are not necessarily career enders. Lamont Brewster had his detached in his last fight and basically fought blind in one eye. He then had surgery ( 4hours) and doctors expect him to make a full recovery and for the affected eye to be stronger than before.....

Brewster Suffered Detached Retina in Loss
It turns out losing his WBO title wasn't the worst thing that happened to Lamon Brewster on Saturday night. According to ESPN, Brewster also suffered a detached retina in his left eye during the bout with Sergei Liakhovich. Brewster believes the injury was the result of a Liakhovich jab in the first round. The injury - and the resulting "yellow blur" - may help explain Brewster's numerous wild swings and misses. It also underscores just how courageously Brewster battled in defeat. Brewster has undergone four hours of surgery on the eye and, thankfully, the injury is not considered career threatening. Brewster intends to exercise the rematch clause in his contract as soon as his eye is fully healed.

A much more detailed writeup including comments from his doctor is here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2398102

When he first heard the diagnosis, Brewster said, "I was scared to death. I was very afraid. I didn't know if my career was over or not. But the doctor explained everything, the do's and don'ts, and told me eventually my eye will be better and stronger after the surgery."

So there you go - its not necessarily the end of your fighting career....

 

[Sinister]

Detached retinas CAN BE career-ending. But Sugar Ray Leonard came back from it and that was quite a while ago. It all depends on how you can be treated individually.

Macular degeneration and retinal detachment both run in my family, so I understand the concern. But it's not necessarily that you're doomed by any means, especially that you were told of "early" signs.

 

[Centaur]

I'm not sure, but I think Randy Couture also had a detached retina at one time. Though I could be wrong.

Hope all goes well man. Keep thinking positive!!!

 

[RandomXMAN]

Were you wearing head gear?

If you want anything bad enough you can do it. There may be a price in the end but ask yourself how bad do you want it.

 

[Michael Wanaka]

Some people see colors when they get stunned. I see yellow myself and my buddy sees purple when he gets stunned. Neither of us have been knocked out, or even knocked down.

 

[judogido]

-- This is why I do judo. All I have to worry about are knee, shoulder, elbow & finger joint injuries, hamstrings, ribs, groin ......

....ah, crap.....


.... well, at least I dont have to worry about detached retinas.

 

[Carlson]

-- This is why I do judo. All I have to worry about are knee, shoulder, elbow & finger joint injuries, hamstrings, ribs, groin ......

....ah, crap.....


.... well, at least I dont have to worry about detached retinas.

unless you break your fall with your temple

 

[krait]

-- This is why I do judo. All I have to worry about are knee, shoulder, elbow & finger joint injuries, hamstrings, ribs, groin ......

....ah, crap.....


.... well, at least I dont have to worry about detached retinas.

If you get dropped on your head you do. Pretty much any serious head trauma can cause it not just getting punched in the face. Not a judo guy myself but there are a couple in my BJJ class and to watch those maniacs throw each other around and face plant all the time. I'll just give you the takedown and arm bar you afterwards.

 

[judogido]

If you get dropped on your head you do. Pretty much any serious head trauma can cause it not just getting punched in the face. Not a judo guy myself but there are a couple in my BJJ class and to watch those maniacs throw each other around and face plant all the time. I'll just give you the takedown and arm bar you afterwards.

If they're face-planting or landing on their heads they arent doing it right..... that stuff can be really dangerous. Poor breakfalling too - ir their head snaps back upon falling. i guess you're right - it COULD happen but not as likely than in striking.

 

[Satanical Eve]

My uncle has a detached retina. Had surgery to try to repair it which didn't work. Hes blind in his left eye completely now

 

[Cyrus Manly]

Why don't you have a chat with GSP?

 

[Zankou]

Pretty stupid to fight with a detached retina if you are an amateur, IMHO.

 

[xilliun]

Some people see colors when they get stunned. I see yellow myself and my buddy sees purple when he gets stunned. Neither of us have been knocked out, or even knocked down.

I see light green :icon_lol:
It's a good sign to cover up as best as possible and go into survival.

 

[knfxda]

Dude you're a 19-yr-old ammy, not Lamon Brewster or Sugar Ray Leonard. You don't have a "career" to speak of.

As for Brewster "Brewster cited an eye injury from his last fight with Helenius as the reason for this retirement" - wikipedia

As for Leonard, I'm pretty sure he's had multiple surgeries on his eye (and was making millions while taking this risk).

 

[SAAMAG]

Unless you're a high paid professional, it's not worth continuing until you get that fixed up man. Right now this is your passion, not your profession. Don't maim yourself just for a training / ammy fight.

Rest, get better. Come back.

 

[shinkyoku]

Remy Bonjasky has one eye that has had detached retina several times. He has had 3 surgeries to correct it. In the end it was the direct cause of his retirement, as he was told a single punch could make him blind on that eye and that no further surgeries is possible.

But you apparently already know that there is a possibility of permanent blindness involved.
So what you have to ask yourself is: Is the joy/money you get out of fighting really worth your eyesight?
I would say "no!", but that is me.