Valsalva retinopathy following an aborted attack of destructive self-harm by strangulation

Abstract

We describe a case of Valsalva retinopathy that occurred after near hanging. A 23-year-old female presented 5 days after destructive self-harm by attempted hanging, complaining of defective vision in the right eye which started immediately after she regained consciousness after resuscitation. The vision was counting fingers close to face. Fundus examination showed a large preretinal hemorrhage at the macular region. She failed to respond to conservative management and was successfully treated with neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet hyaloidotomy. Hanging can cause Valsalva-like retinopathy.

Keywords

• Near hanging
• neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser hyaloidotomy
• premacular hemorrhage
• strangulation
• Valsalva retinopathy