Valsalva Maculopathy Associated with a Sudden, Forceful Shout

Valsalva maculopathy (VM) induced by the Valsalva maneuver may cause a sudden, painless, and dramatic loss of vision in healthy individuals due to a premacular location of the hemorrhage and rupture of retinal capillaries. The prognosis is generally good. The hemorrhage usually clears spontaneously without any treatment. Presently described are clinical findings from a case evaluated as VM resulting from a sudden, forceful shout during a quarrel. A 43-year-old female was admitted to the clinic with a 1-day history of sudden, painless loss of vision in the right eye after sudden, strong shout during an argument. There was no history of trauma or any systemic disease. On examination, the visual acuity was finger count at 1 meter in her right eye, and a central subhyaloid and subinternal limiting membrane premacular hemorrhage was noted. Her intraocular pressure values were 14 mmHg in the right eye and 13 mmHg in the left eye. Her blood pressure measurement was 130/80 mmHg. At 1 month, her vision had improved to 20/25 (LogMAR 0.10) and there was resolution of the hemorrhage without treatment. Although VM is considered to be rare, the events and activities with which it is associated are relatively common in daily life. A sudden, forceful shout and Valsalva stress can lead to dangerous, sudden vision loss due to a premacular hemorrhage.