Microhemorrhagic maculopathy

Abstract

Twenty subjects, 12 males and eight females aged 14 to 58 years, had a small monocular macular hemorrhage that was punctate, round, or bilobed and seemed to originate from the perifoveal capillary plexus. Although clinical study results failed to establish a common causal denominator, three of the 20 patients had a history of preceding increased venous pressure (Valsalva stress), three of nine subjects tested showed impaired blood platelet aggregation, and an additional four of 20 were taking medications known to impair platelet function both in vitro and in vivo. Macular microhemorrhages resolve spontaneously, and available data suggest that the syndrome is benign.