Intraocular hemorrhage

Intraocular hemorrhage (sometimes hemophthalmos or hemophthalmia) is bleeding (hemorrhage) into the eyeball (oculus in Latin. It may be the result of physical trauma (direct injury to the eye) or medical illness. Severe hemorrhage, particularly when leading to rising pressure inside the eye, may lead to blindness.

Types

• Subconjunctival hemorrhage (under the conjunctiva)
• Hyphema (in the anterior chamber)
• Vitreous hemorrhage (into the vitreous)
• Subretinal hemorrhage (under the retina)
• Submacular hemorrhage (under the macula)

Causes

Different causes may cause bleeding in different locations.

• Terson's syndrome (as a result of subarachnoid hemorrhage)
• Hemophilia (a severe bleeding disorder, usually hereditary)
• Anticoagulants and thrombolysis (medication to reduce blood clotting tendency or to disperse blood clots, respectively)