Retinal haemorrhage

Retinal haemorrhage
Synonyms	Retinal hemorrhage
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Visual impairment, floaters, photopsia
Complications	Vision loss, retinal detachment
Onset	Sudden
Duration	Variable
Types	N/A
Causes	Trauma, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, blood disorders
Risks	Shaken baby syndrome, head injury, vascular disease
Diagnosis	Fundoscopy, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography
Differential diagnosis	Retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, macular degeneration
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Observation, laser photocoagulation, vitrectomy
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Depends on underlying cause and severity
Frequency	Common in certain populations (e.g., diabetics, hypertensive patients)
Deaths	N/A

Retinal haemorrhage is a disorder of the eye characterized by bleeding into the retina. It can occur as a result of various medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and blood clotting disorders.

Causes

Retinal haemorrhage can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

• Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina, leading to bleeding.
• Hypertension: High blood pressure can cause the blood vessels in the retina to burst, resulting in a haemorrhage.
• Blood clotting disorders: Conditions that affect the body's ability to clot blood can lead to bleeding in various parts of the body, including the retina.

Symptoms

The symptoms of retinal haemorrhage can vary depending on the severity of the condition. They may include:

• Blurred vision
• Floaters: Small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision.
• Vision loss: This can be partial or complete.
• Pain: This is not a common symptom, but it can occur if the haemorrhage is severe.

Diagnosis

Retinal haemorrhage is typically diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. This may include:

• Visual acuity test: This test measures how well you can see at various distances.
• Dilated eye exam: Drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. This allows the doctor to examine the retina and other parts of the eye more thoroughly.
• Fluorescein angiography: A dye is injected into a vein in your arm. The dye travels through the blood vessels in your eye, making them visible in photographs taken with a special camera.

Treatment

Treatment for retinal haemorrhage depends on the underlying cause. It may include:

• Laser surgery: This can be used to seal leaking blood vessels and prevent further bleeding.
• Vitrectomy: In severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove blood from the inside of the eye.
• Medication: Drugs may be used to control conditions that can cause retinal haemorrhage, such as diabetes and hypertension.

See also

• Eye disorders
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Hypertensive retinopathy