High-altitude retinopathy--case report.

High-altitude retinopathy is one of altitude-related illnesses. Its signs include high-altitude retinal hemorrhages, dilated vessels and peripapillary hyperemia. Increased intracranial pressure seems to be the main cause of all high-altitude diseases including high-altitude retinopathy, cerebral oedema and high-altitude pulmonary oedema. We present the case of high-altitude retinopathy in a 35-year-old woman who reported decreased vision in her right eye, scotomas and high-altitude retinopathy after ascending to more than 7000 meters above sea level. The associated optical coherence tomography findings, fundus photography and literature review are presented. High-altitude retinopathy is an important multifactorial condition of unknown mechanism and etiology, which significantly impacts human vision. Climbing high mountains can cause retinopathy in otherwise healthy people and may lead to permanent sequelae such as retinal nerve fiber layer and optic nerve defects. These symptoms, however, may resolve without causing any permanent damage to the retina. Conservative treatment may help to relieve them. With increasing popularity of mountaineering, ophthalmologists should be prepared to diagnose and treat high-altitude retinopathy.