High altitude retinopathy in mountain climbers
W. T. Shults and K. C. Swan
Retinal hemorrhages appear to be a frequent, though often unappreciated,
occurrence in unacclimated climbers experiencing prolonged exposure to
altitudes above approximately 3,658 meters (12,000 ft), heights frequently
attained by American moutaineers. This condition has not received attention
in the ophthalmologic literature, though several reports of retinal and
vitreous hemorrhages have appeared in nonophthalmologic journals. Of six
surviving members of a climbing expedition of Mt. Aconcagua, four had
retinal hemorrhages. Two had permanently disturbed vision with paracentral
scotomas plotted on a tangent screen.
