Vitreous hemorrhage
Background
- Bleeding into the vitreous humor of the eye
- Vitreous is avascular substance that helps keep retina in place
- Traction at its attachments at the ora serrata and optic disc can result in bleeding
- Neovascularization (a/w DM) can result in weak vessels w/ high propensity for bleeding
- May cause permanent blindness
Causes
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Trauma
- Shaken baby syndrome
- Sickle cell disease
- Posterior vitreous detachment
- Elderly
- Retinal tear
- Terson Syndrome (Association with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH))
Clinical Features
- Sudden, painless vision loss
- Acute Onset Flashers and Floaters
- Generalized unilateral hazy vision
Diagnosis
- Fundoscopy
- May show gross hemorrhage
- Blood may obscure retina
- Decreased red reflex
- Ultrasound
- Bright echoes in posterior chamber
- Small dots or mobile lines may represent early, mild hemorrhage
- Look for retinal injury/tears
- require operative intervention
Work-Up
- Visual acuity
- Degree of vision loss proportional to size of hemorrhage
- Assess for coagulopathy.
- INR for patients on warfarin
- In the setting of trauma, must assess for Globe Rupture
Differential Diagnosis
Acute Vision Loss (Noninflamed)
- Painful
- Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- Optic neuritis
- Temporal arteritis†
- Painless
- Amaurosis fugax
- Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO)†
- Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)†
- High altitude retinopathy
- Open-angle glaucoma
- Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)
- Retinal detachment†
- Stroke†
- Vitreous hemorrhage
- Traumatic optic neuropathy (although may have pain from the trauma)
†Emergent Diagnosis
Treatment
- Correct coagulopathy
- Ophtho consult (should see ophtho within 24-48 hours)
- Treatment directed at underlying cause
- Avoid NSAIDs and anticoagulants
- Elevate the head of the bed
- Treat nausea/vomiting
Source
Tintinalli UpToDate Rosen's