TY - JOUR
T1 - High-altitude retinopathy after climbing mount aconcagua in a group of experienced climbers
AU - Ho, Tsung Yu
AU - Kao, Wei Fong
AU - Lee, Shui Mei
AU - Lin, Po Kang
AU - Chen, Jin Jong
AU - Liu, Jorn Hon
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - Background: Visual disturbances after high-altitude exposure were first reported in 1969. Manifestations may include retinal hemorrhage, papilledema, and vitreous hemorrhage. Methods: We observed a group of 6 experienced climbers who ascended Mt Aconcagua to an altitude of 6,962 m in February 2007. Visual acuity study, intraocular pressure study, visual field study, nerve fiber layer analysis, eye Doppler, laboratory studies, fundus photography, and intravenous fluorescein angiography were performed on the climbers before and after their exposures to high altitude. Results: In all six study subjects, retinal vascular engorgement and tortuosity were present in varying degrees in both eyes. One of the climbers had both retinal hemorrhage and pulmonary edema. Of the two subjects who had visual field defects, one had severe nerve fiber layer defects of both eyes. Furthermore, laboratory studies of this climber showed a high level of antiphospholipid antibody. Significant reduction of the left ocular blood flow was also noted on this subject's eye Doppler examination after the Mt Aconcagua expedition. Conclusion: Various high-altitude retinopathies were observed in the experienced climbers of this study. As high-altitude pursuits become more popular, attention should be paid to the increasing prevalence of high-altitude retinopathy.
AB - Background: Visual disturbances after high-altitude exposure were first reported in 1969. Manifestations may include retinal hemorrhage, papilledema, and vitreous hemorrhage. Methods: We observed a group of 6 experienced climbers who ascended Mt Aconcagua to an altitude of 6,962 m in February 2007. Visual acuity study, intraocular pressure study, visual field study, nerve fiber layer analysis, eye Doppler, laboratory studies, fundus photography, and intravenous fluorescein angiography were performed on the climbers before and after their exposures to high altitude. Results: In all six study subjects, retinal vascular engorgement and tortuosity were present in varying degrees in both eyes. One of the climbers had both retinal hemorrhage and pulmonary edema. Of the two subjects who had visual field defects, one had severe nerve fiber layer defects of both eyes. Furthermore, laboratory studies of this climber showed a high level of antiphospholipid antibody. Significant reduction of the left ocular blood flow was also noted on this subject's eye Doppler examination after the Mt Aconcagua expedition. Conclusion: Various high-altitude retinopathies were observed in the experienced climbers of this study. As high-altitude pursuits become more popular, attention should be paid to the increasing prevalence of high-altitude retinopathy.
KW - antiphospholipid syndrome
KW - highaltitude retinopathy
KW - nerve fiber layer defect
KW - retinal hemorrhage
KW - visual field defect
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80052491817&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/IAE.0b013e318207ceab
DO - 10.1097/IAE.0b013e318207ceab
M3 - Article
C2 - 21478809
AN - SCOPUS:80052491817
SN - 0275-004X
VL - 31
SP - 1650
EP - 1655
JO - Retina
JF - Retina
IS - 8
ER -