[Traumatic hyphema caused by eye injuries].

Hyphema is a common consequence of mechanical ocular trauma. Blood in the anterior chamber (hyphema)can occur after blunt or lacerating trauma. Traumatic hyphema is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. Major complications of hyphema include secondary hemorrhage, secondary glaucoma, corneal staining and disturbances in visual acuity. The aim of our study was the retrospective analysis of patients with posttraumatic hyphema. According to a prospective protocol we studied 428 patients who were examined and treated at the Emergency Department of Department of Ophthalmology Medical University of Gdansk between 1998-2004 years (ears). Data obtained included age and sex. 81% of patients were man, 19% of patients were women. Mean age of patients with ocular hyphema 6-72 years. We determined initial and final visual acuities (visual acuity - distance Snellen acuity test), intraocular pressure measurement, biomicroscopy, fundus indirect ophthalmology, gonioscopy and US- examinations (sometimes). Data obtained also were: slitlamp examinations for hyphema size, hyphema grading and corneal clarity. Most hyphemas were small, occupying less than one- third of the volume of the anterior chamber. The most common associated injuries to the eye hyphema included corneal oedema, glaucoma (secondary glaucoma), cataract and mydriasis. Traumatic hyphema is therapeutic emergency. More preventive efforts (hospitalization) were necessary, especially for children. In our study we observed 89% patients with traumatic hyphema due to non - penetrating eye injury. The assault were responsible for hyphema in 30.1% of cases and traffic accidents in 38.7% of all hyphemas. Treatment of the hyphema is generally topical. Outcome is good (in more cases), if medical treatment was quickly instituted. Surgical treatment must be reserved for a special cases, but it needs more further investigations.