Epiretinal membrane formation with internal limiting membrane wrinkling after Nd:YAG laser membranotomy in valsalva retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To report the location of premacular hemorrhage in Valsalva retinopathy and epiretinal membrane formation with internal limiting membrane (ILM) wrinkling after neodymium;yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser membranotomy.

DESIGN: Interventional case report.

METHODS: A 35-year-old man with a massive premacular hemorrhage due to Valsalva retinopathy underwent Nd:YAG laser membranotomy. After membranotomy, his visual acuity improved from 20/200 to 20/25. Ten months later, he developed metamorphopsia with visual acuity of 20/30. A semiopacified membrane with radiating striae was found, and pars plana vitrectomy was performed for membrane removal.

RESULTS: Histologic examination of the membrane showed hemosiderin deposits within macrophages on the retinal side of the ILM. One year later, the patient was asymptomatic with visual acuity of 20/20.

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, histopathologic confirmation of the sub-ILM hemorrhage in Valsalva retinopathy and epiretinal membrane formation with ILM wrinkling as a complication after Nd:YAG laser membranotomy have not been previously reported.