rss
Br J Ophthalmol 1985;69:911-914 doi:10.1136/bjo.69.12.911
  • Research Article

Vitreous haemorrhage after cataract extraction.

  1. K R Littlewood and
  2. I J Constable

      Abstract

      One hundred eyes undergoing intracapsular cataract extraction and 100 undergoing extracapsular extraction were examined prospectively within one week postoperatively and again at 6-10 weeks postoperatively. Indirect ophthalmoscopy showed vitreous haemorrhage in 36% of the intracapsular group and 13% of the extracapsular group. Vitreous haemorrhage was significantly related to the occurrence of operative hyphaema (p less than 0.01) but not to iridectomy (p greater than 0.05). In the intracapsular group the use of chymotrypsin significantly reduced the incidence of vitreous haemorrhage (p less than 0.01). Three different types of vitreous haemorrhage were identified--streaks, diffuse haze, and beads in the vitreous base. Wound haemorrhage and operative hyphaema account for most cases, but it is suggested that zonular traction may be responsible for the bead haemorrhages and also for the retinal haemorrhages reported by other authors. Although no difference in visual result or incidence of cystoid macular oedema was observed in this study, a relationship to the vitreoretinal pathology of aphakia is suggested.

      This Article

      1. Abstract
      2. PDF

      Responses

      1. Submit a response
      2. No responses published

      Register for free content

      The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

      Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.