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Category:

Valsalva Retinopathy

Specialty: Hematology

Category: None

Symptoms:
sudden vision loss; floaters; visual distortions; red tint in vision

Root Cause:
Sudden increase in intra-abdominal or intrathoracic pressure (e.g., from coughing, vomiting, or heavy lifting) causes retinal capillary rupture and vitreous hemorrhage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Fundoscopic examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein angiography to identify retinal hemorrhages.

Treatment:
Usually self-limiting; observation is sufficient in most cases. Persistent cases may require laser photocoagulation or vitrectomy.

Medications:
Not typically required. In cases of associated inflammation, corticosteroid eye drops may be used.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare but can occur in any age group, more commonly seen in physically active individuals or during activities that cause a Valsalva maneuver.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Activities or conditions causing sudden pressure changes, such as heavy lifting, vomiting, coughing, or sneezing.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent; most cases resolve without intervention. Severe cases may require surgical management.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Persistent vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and vision loss in untreated severe cases.