27-YO man experiences vision loss in one eye after doing deadlifts; This is what a doctor said about it

Excessive straining during workout sessions can come at a cost. (Picture Credit: Pexels)

A healthy man aged 27 complaint of vision loss in his right eye after performing deadlifts. This was shared by AIIMS-trained eye surgeon Dr Ashish Markan. To explain what exactly happened with the man, the doctor shared on his Instagram page that the vision loss occurred immediately due to straining during a workout session.

While the left eyes was normal, the doctor shared that it was the visual acuity in the affected eye that was counting fingers. Dr Markan shared that the man underwent a fundus examination that showed a dense pre-retinal (subhyaloid) haemorrhage over the macula. The B-scan confirmed vitreous haemorrhage. The good part was no major retinal tears or detachments were detected.

After the tests, the man was diagnosed with a condition called valsalva retinopathy. Explaining about the same, the doctor shared, "He was diagnosed with valsalva retinopathy, caused by a sudden increase in intrathoracic pressure during the Valsalva manoeuvre, leading to retinal capillary rupture. As the haemorrhage was dense with significant visual impairment, YAG laser hyaloidotomy was considered but eventually managed conservatively.”

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Patient's vision restored to 6/6

The doctor shared that within 6 to 8 weeks, the haemorrhage cleared on its own and the patient's vision returned to normal. "The patient was counseled to avoid excessive straining during exercise. Valsalva retinopathy typically has a good prognosis with appropriate management," the doctor said this on a concluding note.

FAQs on valsalva retinopathy:

Q. What is Valsalva retinopathy?

It is a sudden eye condition caused by bleeding in the retina after a sharp increase in chest or abdominal pressure.

Q. What triggers Valsalva retinopathy?

Common triggers include heavy lifting, intense coughing, vomiting, straining, or strenuous exercise.

Q. What are the symptoms?

Sudden, painless loss or blurring of vision in one eye is the most common symptom.

Q. Is Valsalva retinopathy serious?

It is usually temporary and vision often recovers on its own, but medical evaluation is important.

Q. How is Valsalva retinopathy treated?

Most cases resolve without treatment; in some cases, laser therapy or surgery may be needed.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.