Thanks for the replies. Neff, there was no procedure and the doc did not fully explain the concern with playing. From what little I know from reading articles about PVD, it doesn't heal but rather becomes complete. after which the floaters and flashes usually go away.
Dr. G, I agree that sudden accelerations (jerks) would be something to avoid rather than a gentle motion. Have you seen an ophthamologist, and if so did he show any concern about saxophone playing?
I had this happen to me about 15 years ago in both eyes. The floaters were thick as flys and the flashers made driving at nigh dangerous....I already had cataracts causing flares around headlights and streetlights. I went to the Institute Catala de la Retina here in Barcelona, one of the best optometrical clinics here and saw a specialist. They carried out a very simple procedure which is an out patient one where they remove the vitreous from the eyes and replace it with normal sterile saline solution used in all operations. Since the vitreous has collapsed it is at the bottom of the capsule of the eye with all that crap in it. As you move you will see it appearing to fall down from above, because the image is reversed by the lens. They did each eye separately and while they were at it they took opportunity to do my cataract operation at the same time. So along with the old vitreous they removed the old lens and replaced it with an artificial one for distance vision and the saline solution (called Suero in Spanish).
The operation was painless, and the recuperation was about a week plus a couple of days to regain my vision fully except that it was spectacular and I could see like I did when young. The only stipulations were to keep my eyes covered, especially against bright lites and the sun and not to look at the TV. During the second eye operation I was a bad boy and watched TV fixedly too soon and the next day couldn't see anything but a flock of birds in a sandstorm flying around. I thought I was going to be blind but it all went away in a few days and was as good as the first eye. It was one of the best things I did for myself because not seeing well is horrible.
I want to stress, that while I am no doctor, the medical techniques for these things are so advance now that the old saw about waiting till you are old to get your cataracts removed is not only totally invalid but dumb if you follow it. If you have cataracts at age 55, get them replaced with new lenses. While they do it they can see if you have any retinal problems that should be watched and corrected. These days a retinal detachment is easily repaired and prevented if done in time, not . after it is all down on the floor of your eyeball. An ounce of Prevention is worth a Ton of cure.
About a year afterwards I started noticing some haze in my vision and they examined me and said that the rear of the new lenses had to be cleaned off with a laser treatment that they do. This is a common event and only happens once for some reason. Since that cleaning I never have had to do it again and my vision has stayed just as clear as when the operation was done. Of course my aging eye muscles have required larger diopter reading glasses, but that's something due to age and has nothing to do with the issue here.
Again, I want to tell you that if you have this problem, either of poor vision from cataracts alone or due to a Vitreous Detachment, please go to see a good Eye surgeon and have them do what I did. It will give you a new and wonderful view of the world. Why not? Why Wait? It's not going go away or get better on its own, believe me.
