Isolated retinal hemorrhages associated with oral contraceptives

Seven patients had isolated retinal hemorrhages without other systemic or ocular disease in a six-year period. Six patients were females, of whom five were taking oral contraceptives. The number of patients taking contraceptives and the fact that one patient had a similar episode earlier during pregnancy suggested a hormonal etiology. In the two patients we examined, we concluded that direct hormonal action causing vascular wall lesions was probably responsible for the pathology.