Editor,—High altitude retinopathy is a condition characterised by asymptomatic retinal haemorrhages that occurs in climbers at above 3000 metres. In some cases disc oedema and cotton wool spots have been described,1 but in retrospect many of these cases may simply be a description of retinal changes occurring secondary to cerebral pathology or haematological changes related to altitude exposure. Little is known of altitude retinopathy because of the paucity of studies and difficulty in obtaining high quality fundal photographs and fluorescein angiography in the hostile high altitude environment.

Mountaineering is becoming increasingly popular and the commercialisation of trekking regions with good air and road links has created fast transit times between high altitudes and the office ophthalmologist. Here we document a case of altitude retinopathy in a fit normotensive subject with fluorescein angiography performed within 5 days of descent from altitude. The …