OVERVIEW

Vitreous hemorrhage, or bleed, results in a sudden change in vision as it blocks light moving through the vitreous to the retina. This hemorrhage specifically occurs in front of the retina in the posterior section of the eye. It usually presents with sudden vision loss, frequently with complaints of floaters or “spots” in the vision. The condition is not due to bleeding of the vitreous humor, but rather bleeding from the retinal vessels or underlying choroid (layer of capillaries beneath the retina) in most cases. Occasionally, bleeding from the iris (in the front of the eye) results in the presence of blood in the vitreous humor.

The vitreous hemorrhage may be the result of an aneurysm of a blood vessel in the eye, trauma to the eye, a retinal tear, a retinal detachment, a new blood vessel (neovascularization) or as a result of another underlying disease state. Vitreous hemorrhage occurs more frequently in patients over 50 but can occur at any age.

SIGN & SYMPTOMS

Someone experiencing a vitreous hemorrhage may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
sudden onset of blurry vision
light flashes
floaters (spots seemingly floating across the field of vision)
blindness

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING

Retinal examination
Visual acuity
Slit lamp examination
Direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy
Ultrasound (to rule out retinal detachment)
Fluorescein Angiogram

TREATMENT

Initial treatment may be observation alone. Minor hemorrhages often clot and resolve on their own over time. Unfortunately, it may take months for full visual recovery from a vitreous hemorrhage.
A vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the vitreous gel and the blood from inside the eye. After the vitreous is removed, the surgeon will refill the eye with a special saline solution that closely resembles the natural vitreous fluid in the eye.

Recovery from the procedure will take up to 6 weeks and complete vision recovery will take a little longer.