eMedicine Specialties > Ophthalmology > Vitreous

Hemorrhage, Vitreous

Brian A Phillpotts, MD, Former Vitreo-Retinal Service Director, Former Program Director, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Howard University College of Medicine
Norman P Blair, MD, Director, Vitreoretinal Division, Laboratory of Retinal Circulation and Metabolism, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary; Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois at Chicago; Jon P Gieser, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago

Updated: Feb 13, 2007

Introduction

Background

Vitreous hemorrhage is the extravasation of blood into one of the several potential spaces formed within and around the vitreous body. This condition may result directly from retinal tears or neovascularization of the retina, or it may be related to bleeding from preexisting blood vessels in these structures.

The vitreous body is bounded posterolaterally by the internal limiting membrane of the retina, anterolaterally by the nonpigmented epithelium of the ciliary body, and anteriorly by the lens zonular fibers and posterior lens capsule. The retrolental space of Erggelet and the canal of Petit are potential spaces. These 2 spaces are located between the anterior hyaloid membrane, the posterior lens capsule, and the orbiculoposterocapsular portion of the zonular fibers. The hyaloideocapsular ligament separates them from each other.

The Cloquet canal and the bursa premacularis are fluid-filled spaces within the formed vitreous into which blood can enter during vitreous hemorrhage. The aqueous-filled space anterior to the formed vitreous is called the canal of Hannover. This space is located between the orbiculoanterocapsular and posterocapsular portions of the zonular fibers.

Historically, anatomists do not consider it a part of vitreous humor; however, hemorrhage into this space is considered functionally as vitreous hemorrhage. The same is true for bleeding into the retrohyaloid or subhyaloid spaces and for sub–internal limiting membrane hemorrhage.

On April 20, 1970, the first pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage was performed by Machemer. Prior to pars plana vitrectomy, the removal of nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage was attempted by excising vitreous gel through the pupillary aperture using cellulose sponges and scissors via a corneoscleral incision, which was coined "open-sky" vitrectomy by Kasner. The procedure was frequently unsuccessful, and patients often had a permanent reduction in vision.

Pathophysiology

In the adult, the vitreous body volume is approximately 4 mL, which is 80% of the globe. The content of the vitreous is 99% water, and the remaining 1% mostly is composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid. Additionally, there are a few other soluble components such as ions, proteins, and trace cells. These components account for the gelatinous but clear nature of the vitreous.

The vitreous is avascular and inelastic. Pathological mechanisms of vitreous hemorrhage can include hemorrhage from diseased retina, traumatic insult, and/or spread of hemorrhage into the retina and vitreous from any other intraocular sources.

Given the history and physical findings, it also may be reasonable to consider extraocular etiologies such as leukemia. Usually, coagulation disorders or anticoagulant therapy does not cause vitreous hemorrhage; however, bleeding from abnormal new vessels or rupture of normal retinal vessels from direct or indirect trauma frequently is associated with vitreous hemorrhage. Bleeding from neovascular and fragile vessels in proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative sickle cell retinopathy, ischemic retinopathy secondary to retinal vein occlusion, and retinopathy of prematurity are among the most common pathological causes of vitreous hemorrhage.

The most common pathogenesis of bleeding in this group of disorders is believed to be retinal ischemia causing the release of angiogenic vasoactive factors, most notably vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factors (bFGF), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF). The second most frequent pathological mechanism for vitreous hemorrhage is tearing of the retinal vessels caused by either a break in the retina or detachment of the posterior vitreous, while the cortical vitreous is adherent to the retinal vessels. In addition, patients with sickle cell retinopathy may show a salmon-patch hemorrhage caused by blowout in the vessel wall following abrupt occlusion in the arterioles by aggregated sickled red blood cells.

Other less common pathological mechanisms of vitreous hemorrhage include subretinal bleeding with secondary extension into the vitreous cavity.

Age-related macular degeneration and choroidal melanoma are the two leading causes of vitreous hemorrhage secondary to breakthrough bleeding. Terson syndrome is subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with vitreous bleeding caused by rupture of retinal venules and/or capillaries as a result of a sudden increase in intracranial pressure (which is transmitted to the retinal vasculature via the optic nerve).

Reports have shown that about 33% of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage may have associated intraocular hemorrhage, and approximately 6% of patients have vitreous hemorrhage. In Terson syndrome, branches of the central retinal vein or the central retinal vein itself is the most common source of intraocular bleeding. Terson syndrome occurs mostly in younger individuals (age 30-50 y).

Frequency

United States

The prevalence of vitreous hemorrhage tends to parallel the frequency of the causative disease. In general, the cause-prevalence of vitreous hemorrhage depends on the study population, mean age of the patients, and geographical region where the study is conducted. In adults, proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the most frequent cause of vitreous hemorrhage, 31.5-54% in the United States, 6% in London, and 19.1% in Sweden.

The other causes of vitreous hemorrhage include the following:

• Retinal tear (11.4-44%)
• Posterior vitreous detachment with retinal vascular tear (3.7-11.7%)
• Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (7-10%)
• Proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (0.2-5.9%)
• Macroaneurysm (0.6-7.4%)
• Age-related macular degeneration (0.6-4.3%)
• Terson syndrome (0.5-1.0%)
• Trauma (12.0-18.8%)
• Retinal neovascularization as a result of branch or central retinal vein occlusion (3.5-16%)

Rare causes of vitreous hemorrhage account for about 6.4-18% of vitreous hemorrhage. In several studies, 2.0-7.6% of the hemorrhage could not be attributed to a specific cause.

The leading cause of vitreous hemorrhage in young people is trauma.

Congenital retinoschisis and pars planitis also may cause vitreous hemorrhage in both children and adults.

Mortality/Morbidity

The complications of vitreous hemorrhage include hemosiderosis bulbi with photoreceptor toxicity, glaucoma, severe floaters, and myopic shift in infants.

• In hemosiderosis bulbi, iron (Fe³⁺) is released during hemoglobin breakdown. This occurs intracellularly in macrophages with subsequent storage as ferritin or hemosiderin. Alternatively, the catabolism of hemoglobin can take place extracellularly and the released iron binds to vitreous proteins with iron-binding capacity, such as lactoferrin and transferrin. The vitreous contains 13 times more iron-binding proteins relative to the serum, with a physiological saturation of the total iron-binding capacity of about 35%. Given the slow clearance of blood in the vitreous, the persistence of intact red blood cells and the slow hemolysis in the vitreous, the amount of iron released from hemoglobin is a relatively small fraction of that available at any given time.
• The exact mechanism of post–vitreous hemorrhage retinal damage has not been completely elucidated. It currently is believed that this damage may be caused by direct or indirect toxicity of iron. For example, iron enters cell wall membranes via secondary lysosomes with the liberation of contained enzymes causing indirect damage. Iron also has been implicated in the release of mitogenic growth factor from macrophages following phagocytosis of blood from vitreous hemorrhage.
• Overall, patients with long-standing vitreous hemorrhage and relatively normal retina tend to have good visual acuity. The vitreous hemorrhage-induced glaucoma is secondary to the blockade of the trabecular meshwork by formed ghost cells due to long-standing blood cells in the vitreous. Ghost cells are small, khaki-colored, spherical, more rigid cells, which develop from long-standing red blood cells in the vitreous where there is a relatively low oxygen tension. In hemolytic glaucoma, the trabecular meshwork is blocked by red blood cell debris, free hemoglobin, and hemoglobin-laden macrophages. In hemosiderotic glaucoma, the iron derived from vitreous hemorrhage binds to the trabecular meshwork mucopolysaccharide causing endothelial cell damage with possible complications of sclerosis and obliteration of the intertrabecular spaces. This form of glaucoma often presents after years of recurrent vitreous hemorrhage.
• Myopic shift and amblyopia have been reported to follow long-standing vitreous hemorrhage in infants, especially in those younger than 2 years.
• In high myopic persons, the risk of retinal tears, detachment, and associated vitreous hemorrhage is increased.
• In general, iron-related toxicity may become clinically apparent in instances of significant long-standing vitreous hemorrhage, often with histopathologic signs of hemosiderosis.

Race

The demographics of vitreous hemorrhage correspond to the incidence of the underlying disease with which it is associated.

• In blacks, diabetes and sickle cell disease tend to be the most common.
• In elderly whites with vitreous hemorrhage, retinal vascular tears and neovascularization caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy and branch retinal vein occlusion are more common. In the same population, macular degeneration and breakthrough bleeding into the vitreous are not infrequent.

Sex

Corresponds to the incidence of the underlying disease with which it is associated

Age

Corresponds to the incidence of the underlying disease with which it is associated

Clinical

History

• Patients with vitreous hemorrhage often present with a complaint of visual haze, floaters, cloudy vision or smoke signals, photophobia, and perception of shadows and cobwebs.
• Small vitreous hemorrhage often is perceived as new multiple floaters, moderate vitreous hemorrhage is perceived as dark streaks, and dense vitreous hemorrhage tends to significantly decrease vision even to light perception.
• Usually, no pain is associated with vitreous hemorrhage. Exceptions may include cases of neovascular glaucoma, severe acute ocular hypertension secondary to ghost-cell glaucoma, or trauma.
• Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals blood within the vitreous gel and/or the anterohyaloid or retrohyaloid spaces.

Physical

• Vitreous hemorrhage within the Berger space tends to settle and form a crescent-shaped pool overlying the hyaloideocapsular ligament.
• In the Cloquet canal, vitreous hemorrhage tends to delineate its inferior border and that within the retrohyaloid space caused by vitreous detachment may accumulate as a meniscus at the inferior vitreoretinal boundary, boat-shaped hemorrhage.
• Similarly, vitreous hemorrhage within the space between the internal limiting and the nerve fiber layer may resemble that within the retrohyaloid space, except that the blood does not shift with change in the head position as may be the case with subhyaloid hemorrhage.
• Note that sub–internal limiting membrane hemorrhage usually implies an intraretinal source of bleeding, whereas subhyaloid hemorrhage usually implies a source of bleeding anterior to the retina.
• Vitreous hemorrhage due to Terson syndrome, anemia, Valsalva retinopathy, shaken baby syndrome, and retinal macroaneurysm rarely breaks through the internal limiting membrane or into the subretinal space.
• Vitreous hemorrhage due to diabetic retinopathy and branch retinal vein occlusion starts anterior to the internal limiting membrane and bleeds into the vitreous.
  • The hemorrhage tends to progress through a distinct change in color from red to pink to orange to yellow white. In sub–internal limiting membrane hemorrhage, especially in sickle cell retinopathy, iridescent spots may develop with resolution of these hemorrhages. Iridescent spots are refractile, copper-colored granules representing hemosiderin-laden macrophages subjacent to the internal limiting membrane. These spots are unusual in hemorrhages anterior to the internal limiting membrane as in diabetic retinopathy or branch retinal vein occlusion.
  • Because of the presence of focal attachment between the internal limiting membrane and the retina at the central fovea area and peripheral to the posterior pole, sub–internal limiting membrane hemorrhage tends to spare the central fovea. Some attachment of the vitreous at the fovea may exist, which may explain why some preretinal hemorrhages spare the fovea.
  • On the other hand, bleeding into the vitreous body shows no definite border. In massive vitreous hemorrhages, a mild afferent pupillary defect may be observed.
• Detailed history and physical examination are very important. History of any ocular or systemic diseases (particularly those mentioned above) as being associated with vitreous hemorrhage, including trauma, should be elicited.
• Complete eye examination should be performed, including slit lamp examination (with gonioscopy to determine angle and iris neovascularization), intraocular pressure, and dilated fundus examination of both eyes with indirect ophthalmoscopy.
• Scleral depression may be performed in some instances of spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage if a view of the peripheral retina is possible. In general, scleral depression is not recommended until 3-4 weeks after traumatic, vitreous hemorrhage. Scleral depression may detect a flap retinal tear.
• In the absence of a view of the retina, B-scan ultrasonography is used to ascertain the presence of retinal detachment, retinal tear, intraocular foreign body, or intraocular tumor.
• In some cases, the cause of vitreous hemorrhage may be ascertained by a fluorescein angiogram, if the clarity of the media allows.

Causes

See Pathophysiology.

Differential Diagnoses

Other Problems to Be Considered

Most commonly encountered differential diagnoses in decreasing order of frequency include the following:

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Posterior vitreous detachment
Trauma (blunt or penetrating, including shaken baby syndrome/child abuse)
Retinal tear
Retinal vein occlusion
Hypertensive retinopathy
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (Terson syndrome)
Avulsed retinal vessels
Age-related macular degeneration
Radiation retinopathy
Macroaneurysms

Others rare causes of vitreous hemorrhage include the following:

Complications of surgical procedures

Retinal laser photocoagulation
Intruding (scleral erosion) scleral buckle
Trabeculectomy
Globe perforation during retrobulbar or peribulbar surgery/anesthesia
Intraocular lens implantation or removal
Neovascularization from cataract wound

Tumors

Malignant choroidal melanoma
Melanocytoma of optic nerve disc
Astrocytic hamartoma of the retina
Retinoblastoma
Cavernous hemangioma of optic nerve disc

Vascular/neovascular

Coats disease/retinal telangiectasia
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
Ocular ischemic syndrome
Branch retinal artery occlusion
Central retinal artery occlusion
Retinal angiomatosis
Retinal vasculitis
Hyperviscosity syndrome
Sarcoid posterior uveitis
Persistent hyaloid artery
Congenital prepapillary
Vascular loop venous stasis retinopathy
Dominant (familial) exudative vitreoretinopathy
Incontinentia pigmenti
Norrie disease

Inflammation

Behçet disease
Presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome
Eales disease
Uveitis (including pars planitis)
Syphilitic retinitis
Dermatomyositis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Toxocara

Hematologic disorders

Thrombocytopenia
Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Leukemia
Hemophilia
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Protein C deficiency
Antiphospholipid antibodies
Von Willebrand syndrome

Miscellaneous causes

Talc retinopathy
Retinitis
Pigmentosa Valsalva retinopathy

Workup

Laboratory Studies

• Consider ordering laboratory studies as per the suspected underlying etiology and its corresponding differential diagnosis. See Differentials.

Imaging Studies

• Consider ordering imaging studies as per the suspected underlying etiology and its corresponding differential diagnosis.
  • With CT scan and/or MRI, exclude globe perforation, intraocular foreign body, avulsed optic nerve, intraocular tumor, displaced scleral buckle, and intraocular lens materials. See Differentials.
  • Ocular B-scan ultrasonography is used when the media is opacified enough to preclude a complete and clear (including view of the ora serrata) funduscopic examination.

Treatment

Medical Care

• Treatment is directed at the underlying cause, if known.
  • On rare occasions, such as unreliable/noncompliant patients with vitreous hemorrhage complicated with severe hyphema, patients may be admitted to the hospital for close observation. Otherwise, most patients are monitored closely on an outpatient basis with emphasis on cooperation with treatment instructions.
  • Bed rest with the head of the bed elevated 30-45° with occasional bilateral patching to allow the blood to settle inferiorly, allowing a view of the superior peripheral fundus
  • Avoid drugs such as aspirin and other anticlotting agents when necessary.

Surgical Care

• The goal is to treat the underlying cause as quickly as possible. For example, retinal breaks are closed by laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy (unlike cryotherapy, laser photocoagulation can close the compromised vessel in addition to the retinal tear); detached retinas are reattached with surgery; and proliferative retinal vascular diseases are treated with laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy (when there is no view of the retina).
• Indications for surgical removal of the vitreous blood include the following:
  • Vitreous hemorrhage associated with detached retina
  • Long-standing vitreous hemorrhage with duration greater than 2-3 months (Vitrectomy for isolated vitreous hemorrhage (eg, without retinal detachment) may be performed before 2-3 months in patients with juvenile-onset diabetes, patients with bilateral vitreous hemorrhage, children in the amblyogenic age range, and/or when retinal traction is suspected.)
  • Vitreous hemorrhage associated with rubeosis
  • Vitreous hemorrhage associated with hemolytic or ghost-cell glaucoma

Consultations

• Depends on the suspected underlying etiology and most likely differential diagnoses. See Differentials.
• Retinal specialist

Medication

Medical therapy depends on the suspected underlying etiology and the most likely differential diagnosis. See Differentials. Avoid drugs such as aspirin and other anticlotting agents when necessary.

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

• Initially, patients with vitreous hemorrhage are monitored daily for 2-5 days to rule out retinal tear or detachment, then every 1-2 weeks for spontaneous clearing. However, in the event that the dense vitreous hemorrhage persists without known underlying cause, a B-scan ultrasonography should be serially performed.

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

• Depends on the suspected underlying etiology and most likely differential diagnoses. See Differentials.

Prognosis

• Depends on the suspected underlying etiology and most likely differential diagnoses. See Differentials.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

• Patients should be examined carefully to rule out the possibility that a retinal detachment is involved.

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Keywords

vitreous hemorrhage, retinal vascular tears, neovascularization of the retina, retinal neovascularization, retinal detachment, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, posterior vitreous detachment

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Brian A Phillpotts, MD, Former Vitreo-Retinal Service Director, Former Program Director, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Howard University College of Medicine
Brian A Phillpotts, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, and National Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Norman P Blair, MD, Director, Vitreoretinal Division, Laboratory of Retinal Circulation and Metabolism, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary; Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois at Chicago
Norman P Blair, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Diabetes Association, American Ophthalmological Society, and Christian Medical & Dental Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jon P Gieser, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago
Jon P Gieser, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Vytautas A Pakainis, MD, Chief of Ophthalmology, Dorn Veterans Administration Medical Center, Professor of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Vytautas A Pakainis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and South Carolina Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute; Chief of Section of Ophthalmology Surgical Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center, West Los Angeles
Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Steve Charles, MD, Director of Charles Retina Institute; Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine
Steve Charles, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Club Jules Gonin, Macula Society, and Retina Society
Disclosure: Alcon Laboratories Consulting fee Consulting; OptiMedica Ownership interest Consulting

CME Editor

Lance L Brown, OD, MD, Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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