Blunt contusion to the eye can, if sufficiently forceful, transmit pressure to the posterior portion of the eye and cause fractured striae within the choroid, the blood vessel layer immediately behind the retina. If the striae extend through the central retina (the macula), visual acuity can be severely affected. In the photo shown to the right the macula was partially spared, fortunately, and the visual effect was of moderate degree only despite the presence of four rather prominent concentrically-shaped striae.

If the pressure effect from the blunt trauma is directed straightaway to the macula, the likely effect is a hole with loss of central vision. For these types of injuries bleeding within the retina develops initially, but clearing of the hemorrhage occurs within a few weeks.