Published online Mar 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.3056
Revised: December 10, 2013
Accepted: January 8, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2014
We report a case of Valsalva retinopathy associated with esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) under propofol sedation. A 43-year-old woman who had no previous history of systemic or ocular disease presented with a complaint of decreased vision in her left eye, which developed one day after EGD under propofol sedation. According to the referring physician, the patient had experienced multiple sustained Valsalva maneuvers during EGD. The fundus examination of the left eye showed a large preretinal hemorrhage surrounded by multiple small retinal hemorrhages in the posterior pole. One month later, fundus examination revealed a floating organized vitreous hemorrhage. The pars plana vitrectomy was performed to treat persistent vitreous hemorrhage. One month after vitrectomy, fundus examination showed normal retina and the patient’s vision recovered to 20/20. Valsalva maneuver can occur during EGD under sedation, and Valsalva retinopathy should be considered as a possible cause. Valsalva retinopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis when a patient complains of blurred vision following EGD.
Core tip: This is the first report describing Valsalva retinopathy following esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) under sedation. This case highlights Valsalva retinopathy induced by Valsalva maneuvers during EGD under incomplete propofol sedation, and that this ocular complication should be included in the differential diagnosis when a patient complains of sudden blurred vision following EGD.