# Sudden vision loss from heart condition

> Anesthesiologist lost vision after rare heart hole caused stroke-like symptoms.
- Title: Sudden vision loss from heart condition · Houstonchronicle
- Summary: Anesthesiologist lost vision after rare heart hole caused stroke-like symptoms. Anesthesiologist Dr. Tiffany Su temporarily lost vision due to a patent…
- Keywords: dr tiffany su, patent foramen ovale, sudden vision loss, heart condition, anesthesiologist, stroke in eye, pfo closure, news, local, Sudden, vision, loss
- Source: Houstonchronicle — https://houstonchronicle.com/health/article/medical-mystery-sudden-vision-loss-22401753.php
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: dr tiffany su, patent foramen ovale, sudden vision loss, heart condition, anesthesiologist, stroke in eye, pfo closure, news, local
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Anesthesiologist Dr. Tiffany Su temporarily lost vision due to a patent foramen ovale, a common heart hole that can cause stroke-like symptoms in the eye.