Mitral valve prolapse (Barlow's syndrome) and retinal emboli

Mitral valve prolapse (M.V.P.) is a noninflammatory degeneration of the mitral valve leaflets which results in a billowing of the redundant valve tissue toward the left atrium during the systolic phase. Mitral valve prolapse can be diagnosed by echocardiography or by auscultation where a characteristic mid-systolic click and late systolic murmur can be heard. Ophthalmic complications of MVP include chronic external progressive ophthalmoplegia and an association with keratoconus. In this case we present a case of a young woman who presented with sudden recurrent decrease in vision secondary to retinal arterioli emboli associated with the mitral valve prolapse syndrome.