Yellow coloration of preretinal (subhyaloid) hemorrhages associated with a sudden increase in intravascular pressure.

Among seven patients with preretinal (subhyaloid) hemorrhages associated with the Valsalva maneuver a striking yellow coloration of the globular lesions was noted during their evolution in five. The coloration was probably due to the accumulation of bilirubin during hemoglobin disintegration. The visual prognosis in such cases is usually excellent unless unless the hemorrhage is massive, and no retinal or vascular abnormalities have been found after the hemorrhage has disappeared. The unusual appearance of the fundus may pose diagnostic problems if the patient is initially seen when the mass is yellow.