Recoil and Eye Damage

[Sabattiboy]

Greetings and Salutations.
I have just encountered a situation where internal damage to my eyes has cast a negative outlook on shoulder fired firearms.
This comes to light as I shoot a 500 NE that is under the preferred weight and a wildcat 375. In years past I shot a lot of SXS 10 gauge rounds.
I was told that the part of my eye(s) that started the problem comes from age. They all ask if I suffered any head trauma. Is a 10gauge shotgun recoil considered trauma? will 80-100 ft lbs in a 500 NE DR might be.
The question I pose is whether other shooters of DG calibers 375 up to 700 NE and 4 to 8 bore BP rifles have had issues with their eye related to recoil.
Thank you in advance for any experience information.
Sabattiboy

 

[SAFARIKIDD]

So sorry to hear this sir..I have yet had no issues and very fond of all calibers mentioned...and owned them all and hunted with most including 577,600,700,8 & 4 Bore...
I will say I don't shoot alot anymore so maybe I slowed down in time ?!
GOOD LUCK

 

[Sabattiboy]

@SAFARIKIDD
Thank you for your response.
We are made of iron when young. Some parts age with no indication. I just knew about the bifocal issues and trouble with iron sights because of that.

 

[michael458]

The question I pose is whether other shooters of DG calibers 375 up to 700 NE and 4 to 8 bore BP rifles have had issues with their eye related to recoil.

For many years doing load development, data, pressure data, and terminal performance, I was shooting 8000-10000 rounds of big bore, 416 caliber+ a year, all from the bench. This also included .585 caliber and some .620 caliber as well, although not as much as 458-.510............. There were always concerns about detached retina, which from what I hear is a real pain in the "eye"...... not a good thing. This never happened to me. Friends and others always warned me about it. I suppose I was lucky.

In 2017 I developed Macular Degeneration in the left eye. Basically leaky vessels in the eye. This will cause a gray area in the center of your vision, blocking your sight. We were on it within a month and I started getting eye injections monthly. Later, I developed it in the right eye as well. For a time, I was getting eye injections in both eyes, monthly. It is not much fun I can tell you.

I spoke to my Doctor rather extensively, and my condition is more hereditary than caused by any sort of recoil or damage from that. Like all Doctors, better safe than sorry, he said I might refrain from doing too much of that activity. I didn't shoot much big bore for awhile, and fortunately I finished all the pressure data, load data and terminal data required by then anyway. I decided that some shooting was not really going to make any difference however, so I continue to shoot when I need to test or do some things with a new bullet, or sight in rifles, or test ammo and what have you...... I have been shooting some regular now for over a year or so, no big deal.

The story on Macular Degeneration is, it will never be cured completely, it will never completely go away, I will have to have injections to the end of days, but the good news is, we have been able to keep the leaking at bay, and I only get injections every 4 months now. As long as we do that I don't have any issues.

Your situation is probably vastly different as you mention an actual injury, and sustained heavy recoil absolutely can cause a problem. Depending on what the nature is of your injury you might want to consult a Doctor if you have not already, and speak to him about detached retina and if that is a possibility in your situation because of the injury. From what I understand, you do not want to have a detached retina.

 

[IvW]

Never had that problem...I use rifles up to 500 Jeff but they are well fitting and of appropriate weight....hotrod wild cats are not part of the deal for me...
Rifle has to fit you properly and the weight and balance has to be right.
Many times you will hear "I carry my rifle more than I shoot it" well rather shoot it a bit more and make sure it fits and does not beat you to death....

 

[Sabattiboy]

@michael458
To add clarity, I have not had an injury. The Dr said there is a jelly like pocket in the back of the eye that becomes more watery then the firm jello when young. This change comes with age. In my case the loose jello bag is/was putting pressure on the retina and causing bleeding and partial detachment. It has been treated with laser surgery so far. The other eye is showing signs of the same problem and is going to be treated in a matter of days. It is not clear if I will be given limitations per my condition when treatment has concluded.
My own wondering pertained to whether heavy recoil had an affect on the bag of loose jello causing it to bulge (more) where it wouldn't have otherwise.
I am certain most DG caliber owners don't slip out back and fire off a box or two a week.

 

[BigSteve57]

I see a retina specialist yearly for an issue with small blood vessels in my right retina. This issue has cleared up, thank goodness but I go yearly to ensure the condition does not recur. During discussions with the retina doc I mentioned that I hunted and he stated unequivocally that recoil from rifles can contribute to a detached retina.

 

[michael458]

My own wondering pertained to whether heavy recoil had an affect on the bag of loose jello causing it to bulge (more) where it wouldn't have otherwise.

@Sabattiboy I think it would be very possible you could have a problem with heavy recoil. In your case, it sounds rather fragile. I would have a serious heart to heart with your doctor. Most doctors are not really going to understand what you do. You will need to explain, maybe even demonstrate somehow to allow them to understand. If it were me, I would refrain from shooting big bore until I found out something definitive. Very sorry. I understand eye issues and value eyesight above many other things. Of course, that is only my opinion and its worth exactly what you paid for it..............

Best of luck..........

 

[matt85]

Ive heard stories but I havent had any problems nor do I know any one who has had problems.

Closest thing Ive ever had happen was when I fired a friends 577 HE loaded to 2500fps with a 750gr projectile. I got a bit dizzy and had a headache for a little while... probably lost a few childhood memories with that one.

-Matt

 

[colorado]

Sorry to hear about your eyes. I limit my shooting of my 500 Jeff to 20 rounds a year or so. Load development was done a long time ago, so I just recheck sight in (typically less than 5 shots) and then go hunting. I'm 72 so eye damage is definitely a concern.

 

[crs]

To Sabattiboy and others with eye problems:
See your eye doctor!

Many of us were born nearsighted due to elongated/egg shaped eyes. This kept me limited to non-contact sports as a youth. I was also told that as my eyes aged the retinas would likely become detached on their own (without head trauma) and that would require immediate attention and retina surgery to address. That came true.

Any shock to the head would tend to aggravate the situation and sports such as boxing, football, and shooting clays would definitely speed up the retina detachment. This is also true of hard kicking rifles.

It is prudent to reduce the recoil of any hard kicking shoulder fired firearm and reduce any harm they may do to your eyes. Fortunately there are many things that can help the hunter/shooter and one of the is a muzzle brake or a Mag-na-port job on a rifle or shotgun. Two of my rifles have been Magnaported and it made a very noticeable improvement on each of them. I have my Winchester 1895 .405 WCF favorite big bore stalking rifle at the Magnaport company now so it will be back before the Texas big game hunting season begins. Since I have already had multiple retina operations on both eyes, I am trying to avoid more without giving up shooting.

 

[Sabattiboy]

@crs
Interstingly, I had my eyes checked at a university eye clinic about a week before it got bad and even telling them they didn't see the problems that had to be there then. They do way more extensive tests etc then one would get at a routine update exam for glasses. That prolonged treatment by a week or so. I've never learned how to make Doctors listen when they don't want to.
The response so far has been helpful and hope this thread might serve to help others.

 

[Spooksar]

Like michael458 I developed Macular Degeneration at 64, that December I had a detached Retina. The doctor that did the surgery is one of the best in Alberta, when I asked about shooting he said don’t worry about it after you heal. I’ve switched from right side to left side and shoot my 470 and 416 Rigby with no problem at all.

 

[crs]

Yeah, I shoot left handed some also. It is slower, but just as accurate.

 

[R.M.C.]

I've always heard stout recoil can detach a retina but I haven't run into anyone that has had it happening from a rifles recoil. I started worrying about it a few years ago when my eye doctor said it looked like I was "at risk" for a detached retina. That would not be a good day

 

[CoElkHunter]

For many years doing load development, data, pressure data, and terminal performance, I was shooting 8000-10000 rounds of big bore, 416 caliber+ a year, all from the bench. This also included .585 caliber and some .620 caliber as well, although not as much as 458-.510............. There were always concerns about detached retina, which from what I hear is a real pain in the "eye"...... not a good thing. This never happened to me. Friends and others always warned me about it. I suppose I was lucky.

In 2017 I developed Macular Degeneration in the left eye. Basically leaky vessels in the eye. This will cause a gray area in the center of your vision, blocking your sight. We were on it within a month and I started getting eye injections monthly. Later, I developed it in the right eye as well. For a time, I was getting eye injections in both eyes, monthly. It is not much fun I can tell you.

I spoke to my Doctor rather extensively, and my condition is more hereditary than caused by any sort of recoil or damage from that. Like all Doctors, better safe than sorry, he said I might refrain from doing too much of that activity. I didn't shoot much big bore for awhile, and fortunately I finished all the pressure data, load data and terminal data required by then anyway. I decided that some shooting was not really going to make any difference however, so I continue to shoot when I need to test or do some things with a new bullet, or sight in rifles, or test ammo and what have you...... I have been shooting some regular now for over a year or so, no big deal.

The story on Macular Degeneration is, it will never be cured completely, it will never completely go away, I will have to have injections to the end of days, but the good news is, we have been able to keep the leaking at bay, and I only get injections every 4 months now. As long as we do that I don't have any issues.

Your situation is probably vastly different as you mention an actual injury, and sustained heavy recoil absolutely can cause a problem. Depending on what the nature is of your injury you might want to consult a Doctor if you have not already, and speak to him about detached retina and if that is a possibility in your situation because of the injury. From what I understand, you do not want to have a detached retina.

Yes, the Macular Degeneration is hereditary. My friend's wife has it in both eyes and is getting the same injections. She is slowly going blind though. Her father had the same thing. But, I'm thinking a detached retina is from the trauma (recoil) of shooting heavy recoiling rifles over a long period of time without a sufficient recoil pad and/or not using a PAST type shoulder pad to reduce the effects? But, everyone is different so....?

 

[Sabattiboy]

I've shot guns my entire life but never considered there might be a day when it would end for medical reasons. It is a good thing to get this information from others. It might be that those that have problems are in the 1% group but at least the rest should know to ask when getting their eyes checked.

 

[Sabattiboy]

Like michael458 I developed Macular Degeneration at 64, that December I had a detached Retina. The doctor that did the surgery is one of the best in Alberta, when I asked about shooting he said don’t worry about it after you heal. I’ve switched from right side to left side and shoot my 470 and 416 Rigby with no problem at all.

I am glad to hear that there is a possibility of being good to go at the end.

 

[kidogo]

My father has macular degeneration and can no longer shoot big bores. I have my retinas checked on a regular basis because the only thing I can think of that would be worse than not being able to shoot my favorite rifles would be to be blind -- and not being able to shoot.

 

[Spooksar]

I am glad to hear that there is a possibility of being good to go at the end.

I developed Macular Degeneration on a trip to Africa thought it was a plugged tear duct. It’s hereditary and was going good with shots. The detached Retina was because I’m badly near sighted and my retina was thin because of it. I have shot a Elephant, a Hippo and this year a Cape Buffalo since. It’s been a huge learning curve but well worth it.