Man went blind in one eye due to intense orgasm

A man lost his eyesight during a 'vigourous' sex session
Shutterstock / Dmitry Sheremeta
Fiona Simpson23 November 2017

A man went to hospital after going blind in one eye following a “vigorous” sex session, research revealed.

The 29-year-old visited an emergency eye clinic after suffering partial sight loss in his left eye the morning after a strenuous romp, a report published in the British Medical Journal revealed.

Researchers said he is likely to have burst a blood vessel in his eye during an intense orgasm.

It is thought he was performing a Valsalva manoeuvre, which happens when a person tenses their abdominal muscles and holds their breath, forcing air against a closed windpipe and putting pressure on the chest.

This can lead to burst blood vessels, doctors said.

The report said initially doctors were confused by the cause of the man’s injury and asked him to return for a check-up three days later.

“At this visit, he saw a different clinician who asked direct questions about the patient's sexual activity. The patient then reported an episode of vigorous sexual intercourse on the evening preceding the onset of symptoms.”

The patient’s eyesight eventually returned on its own, the report added.

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