Sudden Vitreous Hemorrhage Following Sneezing: A Case Report

Sudden vision loss caused by vitreous hemorrhage (VH) is a medical urgency and can occur due to several conditions, including proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), retinal tears, or trauma. Sometimes, uncommon triggers like sneezing—especially when it involves a Valsalva maneuver—can lead to VH. This report discusses a 55-year-old man with type 2 diabetes and previously treated PDR, who lost vision in his right eye after a violent sneeze during a social event. His vision was stable after prior panretinal photocoagulation, but the sneezing episode resulted in a dense VH, confirmed by B-scan ultrasonography. The case underscores the importance of recognizing rare causes of VH and ensuring timely access to specialist retinal care. It also highlights that even after treatment, patients with PDR are still at risk from such events.