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Medical Forum / General / Vision / October 2005Vision fades/fuzzes while playing musical instrument
I've recently heard from several trombone players who say their vision sometimes gets fuzzy when playing, making it hard to focus on the sheet music. I've had it happen too. Is there a reason for this? Something about blowing against resistance raising pressure in the eyeball, maybe? > I've recently heard from several trombone players who say their vision > sometimes gets fuzzy when playing, making it hard to focus on the sheet > music. Trombone players move a lot of air. It's the oboe and bassoon players who are oxygen-deprived. :) > Is there a reason for this? Something about blowing against resistance > raising pressure in the eyeball, maybe? It may be more about hyperventilation combined with the Valsalva maneuver (blowing against resistance). That can make you faint, preceded by fading vision, dizziness, and tinnitus. It's caused by a vascular reflex that constricts blood vessels in the brain (of which the eye is a part.) FWIW, I played horn, right in front of the trombone section, for several years, and the players never mentioned it. -MT > It may be more about hyperventilation combined with the Valsalva > maneuver (blowing against resistance). It could also be caused by a less-than-perfect vestibulo ocular reflex.  SignatureScott Reverse name to reply >>I've recently heard from several trombone players who say their vision >>sometimes gets fuzzy when playing, making it hard to focus on the sheet >>music. > > Trombone players move a lot of air. It's the oboe and bassoon players who > are oxygen-deprived. :) Hmm. I have heard that all oboe players are crazy -- if they weren't nuts to begin with, they certainly become crazy after. Perhaps the oxygen-deprivation is an explanation... SignatureCheers, Bev =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to be insane in such a useful way that they can't commit you." -- Mark Edwards > I've recently heard from several trombone players who say their vision > sometimes gets fuzzy when playing, making it hard to focus on the sheet [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Is there a reason for this? Something about blowing against resistance > raising pressure in the eyeball, maybe? I play trumpet in local band here and have had similar experience. When I had my cataract surgery I checked with my OD about this blurring symptom and he said there should be no problems... at least permanently. But my faith in him has diminished since I realized he implanted the wrong value IOL. Perhaps others here can shed some light on this phenomenom. My guess is that it is pressure building up somehow. It sure makes the little dots next to the notes on the sheet music difficult to see <grin>. George I doubt that hyperventilation is involved, as it can start on the first note, or at least the first two bars. I doubt that valsalva is involved, because valvsalva on a brass instrument (one of the most dreaded faults that can occur) usually involves difficulty starting a note, and the fading occurs while playing extended phrases as well. I'm thinking either something to do with pressure inside the eyeball, or some kind of direct mechanical effect. Maybe one unconsciously squints. Very low notes can shake the eyeball enough to produce a weird effect on an LED screen, related to aliasing. As far as I can remember only middle-aged players have commented on this. Perhaps aging plays a role? > I doubt that hyperventilation is involved, as it can start on the first > note, or at least the first two bars. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > As far as I can remember only middle-aged players have commented on > this. Perhaps aging plays a role? I'm beginning to think, like you said, that there is some pressure building in the eye ball . Seems like my floaters got worse too. I only began to notice this when I got past 60 years... so it may be age related like you said. Seems to affect brass players primarily in our band. We have only one oboe player and she doesn't report problems. Clarinets and reed players don't seem affected either. If there is pressure building in the eye ball, perhaps because of age, we may lose the resiliency, then that would possibly explain the increase in floaters too. I know that my floaters got worse after cataract surgery where they mash the eye pretty much during surgery. Also wonder if the vitreous detachment plays a role, which I also have. George
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