What is a Vitreous Hemorrhage?
Will I Need Surgery?
My patient today was complaining of decreased vision and she did the correct thing in making an appointment immediately for a dilated exam. The cause of her bleeding into the vitreous was not determined because some of the blood prevented complete visualization of the retina. There was no tears or retinal detachment and the ultrasound scan confirmed that the retina was still attached. There is no history of diabetes or hypertension in this patient and no likely systemic cause of the bleeding. There also is no history of trauma. In this case, the possible cause of the bleeding is a detachment of the vitreous overlying a blood vessel in the retina so in this case the patient will be closely followed to make sure the hemorrhage clears.
This type of hemorrhage occurs fairly commonly and in most cases the hemorrhage will clear over a period of 2 to 3 weeks allowing good visualization of the retina.
Once the vitreous hemorrhage clears we will be able to better determine the cause and determine if any further treatment or diagnostic testing is necessary. After the hemorrhage clears, a flourescein angiography may be necessary. This is a test where we inject about a teaspoon of dye directly into the vein. The flourescein dye quickly circulates through the body and with the proper filter the dye will appear as a white substance coursing through the vessels in the retina. This will most often show if any vessels or bleeding actively. If there is an actively bleeding vessel, a laser can be used to treat the area causing the bleeding.
If the bleeding does not clear or gets worse, then a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy may be necessary to clear the blood.
The most important thing to do if you noticed sudden lost of vision as this patient did is to immediately be seen by an eye specialist.
Edgar M Dapremont Jr. MD
www.dapremont.com
www.dailyrecipedoctor.com
Published by S. A. Knight
Born and raised in New Orleans, Dr. Dapremont has practiced Ophthalmology on the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1982. Dr. Dapremont completed his residency in Ophthalmology at Walter Reed Army Medical Cente... View profile
- What Are Flashes and Floaters? from Eyebee SpeaksThe floaters and flashes are very common complaints in all populations of patients at any age and even those without eye disease.
- An Inside Look at the BeagleWhat qualities make the beagle such a popular dog today? Is a beagle right for your family? Do they come with any special challenges or health concerns? We'll address these questions and more as we take an inside l...
- A Review of Smells Be Gone Odor Absorbing GelThis is an odor absorber that is totally non-toxic. It helps absorb bad odors, musty smells, even cat litter odors! Simple to use and lasts for 90 days!
- Belkin WaveRest Keyboard Wrist Support ReviewA firm yet flexible, gel filled wrist support makes spending hours at the computer much less stressful
- Everything You Wanted to Know About Silica Gel but Didn't Know Who to AskMany times when we open a box that contains electronics, leather goods, or dried food, we find small white packets marked "Do Not Eat." What are they and why are they in there?
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Retinal Detachment and Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Health: Support for Patients After Detached Retina Surgery
- Detached or Torn Retina: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
- How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
- Can Hair Dye Really Cause Cancer?
- Are You Near Sighted? You're at Risk for Retinal Detachment
- The most important thing to do if you noticed sudden lost of vision is get an eye exam
- If the bleeding does not clear or gets worse, then there isa surgical procedure called a vitrectomy
- The human eye is filled with a gel like substance called vitreous