Materials and Methods: Files of patients with Valsalva retinopathy diagnosed between 1995 and 2013 were reviewed retrospectively and records of seventeen patients were evaluated.

Results: Ten patients were male and seven female. Mean age of the subjects was 44.7 years (Range, 18-70 years). The involvement was unilateral in all patients. In nine patients (52.9%) preretinal subhyaloid haemorrhage larger than 2 disc diameter was masking the macula. In six (35.2%) preretinal haemorrhage was away from macula and in two (11.7%) haemorrhage was masking the fovea but smaller than 1 disc diameter. Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was hand movement in eleven patients who had preretinal haemorrhage masking the fovea and 9/10 in six patients with preretinal haemorrhage sparing the fovea. Eight patients (47%) with preretinal subhyaloid haemorrhage over three disc diameter and masking the fovea received Nd:YAG laser treatment. The hemorrhage instantaneously drained into the vitreous cavity, resulting in a dramatic increase in visual acuity. Nine patients (52.9%) were followed without any treatment and spontaneous recovery occurred in all.

Conclusion: Valsalva retinopathy usually has a good prognosis characterised with spontaneous improvement. Visual acuity improvement can be obtained in patients with preretinal subhyaloid haemorrhage over three disc diameter and masking the fovea with Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy. Keywords : Macula, Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy, valsalva retinopathy