[1] Purtscher's retinopathy likely involves complex pathophysiology, with several contributing factors, including complement-mediated aggregates, fat, air, fibrin clots and platelet clumps.

[3] Where trauma is involved, only a funduscopic examination of the back of the eye (retina) is necessary to make the diagnosis.

Typical features are Purtscher flecken (polygonal white areas in the retina) with perivascular clearing.

[6] Purtscher's retinopathy was first characterized in 1910 and 1912 as a syndrome of sudden blindness after head trauma,[7] with patches of hemorrhage and whitening of the retina in both eyes.

[3] Purtscher's retinopathy may also be associated with acute pancreatitis, vasculitis, embolization of such materials as fat and amniotic fluid,[8] systemic lupus erythematosus, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and chronic kidney failure.