Blurred Vision

[markccj]

Whilst performing my deadlifts yesterday my vision went blurry and all noise was almost muted. From about the knee up during the first lift, and on the 2nd & 3rd lifts.

Anybody else experienced this, or know what the physiological cause is?

It was only 195kg (430lb) for 5 reps. I've experienced light-headedness and quasi-blurred vision AFTER performing max lifts in the past, but this was different.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Sounds like mild vasovagal syncope. Did you breathe differently during this set?

[Brian Harlin]

Whilst performing my deadlifts yesterday my vision went blurry and all noise was almost muted. From about the knee up during the first lift, and on the 2nd & 3rd lifts.

Anybody else experienced this, or know what the physiological cause is?

It was only 195kg (430lb) for 5 reps. I've experienced light-headedness and quasi-blurred vision AFTER performing max lifts in the past, but this was different.

I've had my hearing do some funny stuff on dead lifts. The only visual issues I've had was a few weeks ago. It was on a first rep of the first squat set just as I was coming out of the hole. It wasn't that everything went blurry though. The best way I can describe it is; if you were looking at a computer screen and random groups of pixels (about the size of a grape) decided that they didn't like where they were and started moving around the screen. At first I thought it was some leaves that had blown into the garage and were swirling in front of me on the floor. It was a trip. I attributed it to 2 things.

1. Sometimes on my first work set I squat with a more vertical back than I should. Subsequently the first rep is often much harder and slower that the 2nd and 3rd.

2. I didn't take a good deep breath.

I kept going and was fine for reps 2-5 and sets 2 and 3.

On dead lifts I have had my hearing go kinda white noisy almost like a tv on the "ant races" channel.

It's always very brief, and I'm still kickin'

[markccj]

Sounds like mild vasovagal syncope. Did you breathe differently during this set?

To be honest, Coach, I couldn't say with any certainty. I usually hold my breath during the entirety of each rep, and only reset and breath when the bar is back on the floor. I can't imagine I would have done any different during this particular set. Perhaps I might have taken too long between setting for the first pull, holding my breath, and then actually commencing the pull?

It was a really strange occurrence. I don't know that "blurred vision" quite does it justice. It was like a mixture of this and vision shudder, where it was like my eyeballs were quickly rocking side-to-side in their socket, which caused my vision to quickly shake whilst also being blurred.

[Mark Rippetoe]

That may be the only time it ever happens. Forget it and train. If it happens again, we'll have to evaluate it.