Valsalva retinopathy occurring after general anesthesia.

Purpose: To report a case of patient who presented with valsalva retinopathy after genral anesthesia for the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysm.

Observation: A forty year-old man presented, after a general anesthesia for treatment of a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, with a severe decrease of the visual acuity in the left eye. Ophthalmic examination, performed one month after surgery showed a retrohyaloid macular hemorhage. After failure of laser Nd-YAG hyaloidotomy, vitrectomy allowed drainage of the hematoma with good visual outcome.

Conclusion: Valsalva retinopathy is a rare complication that can occur after genral anesthesia. Vitrectomy may be needed if Nd-Yag laser hyaloidotomy fails.