High-Altitude Retinopathy and Retinal Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Fu R, Wang Y*# and Liu D*#

Department of Ophthalmology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
#These authors contributed equally to this work

^*Correspondance to: Dachuan Liu 

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Abstract:

This paper introduces a case of High-Altitude Retinopathy (HAR) with decreased vision and retinal hemorrhage after living at a high-altitude. Retinopathy caused by high-altitude is described in this case. A 41-year-old healthy man started from an altitude of 143 feet (43.5 meters) and reached an altitude of 13,780 feet (4,200 meters) within one day. After 4 months of residence, he developed decreased vision accompanied by visual field defects in his left eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral papilledema, peripapillary hemorrhage in his left eye, and retinal hemorrhage in the macular area of optic papilla. He was diagnosed with HAR. After 3 months of treatment, the patient's symptoms and signs improved. HAR can occur when the human body enters the high-altitude area (the altitude above 3,000 meters) from the low altitude area in a short period of time. This case has deepened the understanding of the effects of high-altitude environment on the retina, and suggested the importance of early diagnose and treatment.

Keywords:

High-altitude retinopathy; Retinal hemorrhage; High-altitude sickness; Hypoxia

Cite the Article:

Fu R, Wang Y, Liu D. High-Altitude Retinopathy and Retinal Hemorrhage: A Case Report. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2023; 8: 2476..