Vitreous Hemorrhage

Key Features

• Visual acuity ranges from 20/20 (6/6) to light perception only

• The eye is not inflamed, red, or painful

• Causes include

  • Retinal tears (with or without detachment)

  • Diabetic or sickle cell retinopathy

  • Retinal vein occlusions

  • Retinal vasculitis

  • Neovascular age-related macular degeneration

  • Retinal arterial macroaneurysm

  • Blood dyscrasias

  • Therapeutic anticoagulation

  • Trauma

  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage

  • Severe straining (Valsalva retinopathy)

Clinical Findings

• Sudden visual loss

• Abrupt onset of floaters that may progressively increase in severity

• Occasionally, "bleeding within the eye"

Diagnosis

• The clue to diagnosis is the inability to see fundus details clearly despite the presence of a clear lens

• In all cases, examination by an ophthalmologist is essential

Treatment

• Retinal tears and detachments require urgent treatment