[High altitude retinal hemorrhages in mountain climbers (author's transl)]

A report is given on three patients who noticed an acute deterioration of visual acuity after a sojourn at 5000 altitude caused by retinal hemorrhages. We documented both the ophthalmological examinations such as visual acuity, fundus, perimetry and fluorescence-angiography and the systemic results. During the period of about half a year after the incidence of deterioration of visual acuity we followed the course of illness. The pathophysiological mechanism, and therapeutical and prophylactical possibilities are discussed in consideration of the results of other authors.