What is a vitreous haemorrhage?
A vitreous haemorrhage occurs when there is bleeding into vitreous jelly of the eye.
What symptoms does a vitreous haemorrhage cause?
Small vitreous haemorrhages will cause a cloud of spots floating in your vision “floaters”. Larger vitreous haemorrhages can block the entire vision in the affected eye.
Why does it occur?
There are many causes for a vitreous haemorrhage, including:
- Diabetes
- Retinal tear and detachment
- Retinal vein blockages
How is it diagnosed?
Vitreous haemorrhage can be diagnosed by clinical examination. If the view to the back of your eye is poor, your doctor will perform an B-scan ultrasound on your eye to ensure that the retina is still attached.
What is the management?
Milder cases of vitreous haemorrhage may be able to be observed with the hope that the blood will clear itself with time. More severe cases may require vitrectomy surgery to clear the blood. The underlying cause for the vitreous haemorrhage will need to be addressed.