Subinternal limiting lamina hemorrhages associated with sudden vascular pressure rise: yellow preretinal hemorrhages

A group of patients with subinternal limiting lamina hemorrhages associated with the Valsalva maneuver have been described. A majority of the patients have shown a striking yellowish coloration to the globular preretinal lesions during their evolution. This unique coloration is probably due to the accumulation of bilirubin during hemoglobin disintegration. Visual prognosis is usually excellent and no retinal or vascular abnormalities have been found after the hemorrhage disappears. The unusual fundus picture presented by this lesion may pose diagnostic problems if the patient is initially seen when this yellow mass is present.