Sudden vision loss

Dr. Tiffany Su, a Houston anesthesiologist, suddenly lost vision in her right eye while working late one night last summer.

“I didn’t really know what was happening to me”

Initial confusion

Su thought she might be tired or seeing things incorrectly, but her vision showed a gray upper field in her right eye.

Ruled out common causes

Su’s optometrist referred her to an ophthalmologist who suggested an embolic event like a blood clot or fat piece stuck in a blood vessel.

Cardiologist tests

Su saw a cardiologist who ran basic lab tests and an electrocardiogram but found no issues with her heart.

Hematologist checks

A hematologist tested Su’s blood and ruled out hormone replacement therapy as the cause of her vision loss.

Heart hole discovery

A Doppler ultrasound and bubble study revealed Su had a patent foramen ovale, a small hole in her heart that skipped the lungs.

PFO closure

Dr. Khaled Khalaf closed Su’s patent foramen ovale with an outpatient procedure using an occluder device in September 2025.

Back to normal

Su now takes daily aspirin to prevent clots and reports her life is back to normal after the procedure.

PFO prevalence

Patent foramen ovales are common in one in four people but rarely cause symptoms unless blood clots pass through the hole.

Risk factors

People with genetic mutations or clotting disorders are at higher risk for PFO-related symptoms and recurrence.

Medical advice

Doctors should screen for PFO in younger patients with sudden stroke-like symptoms to prevent vision loss.

Patient perspective

Su posted her diagnosis on Instagram, receiving supportive comments and attention from a medical colleague.

What happened next

Su’s heart hole was closed with an outpatient procedure in September 2, 2025, and she now takes daily aspirin to prevent clots.