Vitreous Hemorrhage

Condition caused by diabetes among other health factors

Condition

Vitreous bleeding causes your vision to suddenly change. The change happens because the bleeding blocks light from reaching the retina. Vitreous hemorrhage can result from 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 another underlying disease. Other diseases associated with vitreous hemorrhage include diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell anemia and carotid artery disease.

Risk factors

If you have diabetes, you are particularly susceptible because diabetes triggers the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye that are weak and bleed easily. Vitreous hemorrhage occurs more often in people over 50, but can occur at any age.

Symptoms

Symptoms of vitreous hemorrhage include:

- Sudden onset of blurry vision

- Light flashes

- Floaters (spots that trail across the field of vision)

- Blindness

Treatment

Minor hemorrhages often clot and heal over time, although it may take months for full visual recovery. Severe vitreous bleeding can be treated with a vitrectomy surgery. A vitrectomy is a procedure that removes the vitreous gel and the blood from inside the eye, and is replaced with a special saline solution. Recovery from the procedure can take up to six weeks. Full visual recovery will take longer.

Normal eye

Eye affected by vitreous hemorrhage, blurry with no distinct blood vessels

Affected eye

vitrectomy procedure, removing vitreous gel and the blood from inside the eye, replacing it with a special saline solution

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