VITREOUS HAEMORRHAGE AND OPACITY

What is Vitreous Haemorrhage?

Vitreous haemorrhage is the term used to describe bleeding or leaking into the vitreous cavity of the eye, which is the space between the retina and the lens and is filled with clear vitreous gel.

The pathophysiology of Vitreous Haemorrhage can be broadly placed in three categories.

Presence of abnormal vessels that are likely to bleed, due to neovascularization caused by diseases such as Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Vein Occlusion or ischemic conditions.
The rupture of normal blood vessels due to mechanical stress such as blunt or penetrating trauma.
Blood coming from an adjacent source to the vitreous humour such tumours and macro aneurysms.

Causes of Vitreous Haemorrhage

Vitreous Haemorrhage can be caused by various factors such as:

Diabetic Retinopathy, which is the most common cause in adults
Trauma – which is a leading cause in young people
Retinal Tear or Retinal Detachment
Posterior Vitreous Detachment
Sickle Cell Retinopathy
Macro Aneurysm
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Retinal neo-vascularization due to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion
Eye Tumours - while very rarely the first sign of an eye tumour may be bleeding into the vitreous.

Symptoms of Vitreous Haemorrhage

The effect of vitreous haemorrhage on vision depends upon the amount of bleeding into the vitreous cavity. Symptoms of vitreous haemorrhage may range from