High altitude retinal hemorrhages in a Colorado skier.
High altitude retinal hemorrhages are commonly seen at altitudes above 4270 m. While these hemorrhages are generally asymptomatic, macular involvement may result in permanent visual acuity deficit. We present the case of a 29-year-old male recreational skier who traveled to a ski resort at 2930 m, ascended to 3470 m, and developed acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema, and bilateral retinal hemorrhages. A funduscopic examination to determine if macular retinal hemorrhage is present may be performed by clinicians in the final assessment of patients following altitude illness.
Honigman
B
B
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine and the Colorado Emergency Medicine Research Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. Benjamin.Honigman@UCHSC.edu
Noordewier
E
E
Kleinman
D
D
Yaron
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009051:Mountaineering; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012865:Skiing