Ask a doctor on the topic of Ophthalmology

3D imaging of the retina - snowball attack won't leave my mind

July 24, 2013 | 55,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg

Dear Dr. Berg,

I had previously asked you a question on December 25th, 2011 under the above title, regarding an incident where I (49) got hit in the eye with a snowball about 26 years ago.

I have a second question regarding this snowball incident: Because it was an absolute bullying and violent experience for me at the time, I still haven't been able to process it properly. I was pelted with snowballs by three men without reason or sense, I had pain shortly after the incident, the white part of my eye was slightly red the next day, and there was a slight redness on the outside as well.

You had previously mentioned to me that if there were any tears in the retina, they would have likely been repaired. I have asked doctors during routine check-ups, who all believe that after such a long time, nothing more would have happened. None of the preventive examinations such as photographs, fundus photography, two-dimensional laser Doppler examinations, etc. indicate any resulting damage.

However, I recently read this article in the pharmacy journal http://www.apotheken-umschau.de/Augen/Haengen-Prellung-des-Auges-und-Netzhautabloesung-miteinander-zusammen-31454.html. Since then, my mind has been racing. What do you think about the possible contusions and stretches of these layers mentioned in the article, and their potential consequences?
My eye doctor believes that anything is possible in theory, but based on the examinations, I can be completely reassured as there are no signs of any damage, and he would have noticed something.

Perhaps it is really a psychological problem for me, as it was truly a traumatic experience. I can imagine that I wouldn't be having these thoughts if it had been just an accident. It's difficult...
Thank you very much in any case.

Dr. med. Ralf Berg

Hello

Indeed difficult. But you are on the right track. With 99% certainty, nothing or at least nothing serious happened to your eye and retina back then. However, it is actually the accompanying circumstances that you experienced as "injurious" that make it difficult for you to let go of this issue.
Of course, the pharmacy review is right: there is a connection between bruising of the eyeball and possible retinal damage. But it doesn't always have to go that far. Of course, there is a connection between a fall while skiing and a broken leg. If you have fallen, the leg hurt, you couldn't put weight on it for a short time, but then it was fine, no one would still be worried about a possible leg fracture. Even if there were another article about the dangers of skiing in the event of a fall and the connection with leg injuries. It's the same with your eye. I fully agree with your eye doctor's opinion. Perhaps the comparison with a broken leg will help you a little bit.
In addition to the organic level, there is also the psychological level. And that's where you need to start.
I would really recommend that you seek out a psychotherapist now and go through the whole thing again. I believe this will help you more than further eye examinations, because no matter what the outcome is, it won't be able to overcome the trauma or fear in your mind, so that you can't "bury" this issue.
This phenomenon is also known in other areas, where people have felt "abused" or have indeed been abused (workplace bullying, sexual violence, etc.).
I hope that psychotherapeutic treatment will enable you to deal with these old fears, which sometimes also have a biographical (often unconscious) background.

With warm regards,
Dr. R. Berg