[Recurring vitreous body hemorrhages due to a retinal vessel drawn into the vitreous body cavity].

Six cases of recurrent vitreous hemorrhage are described. The hemorrhage was due to a retinal vessel rupture or injury caused by vitreous traction. The traction was exerted by the detached vitreous and the vessel drawn into its cavity without the simultaneous occurrence of a tear in the retinal area corresponding to the point of traction. The avulsed vessel was usually a small vein in the upper temporal fundus quadrant. The vessel either projected as a hooklet into the vitreous cavity or its peripheral end was found to be floating freely within the cavity after having moved away from the retina. Treatment consisted in laser coagulation alone or in conjunction with an indentation created by fixing a silicon episcleral explant. Recurrent vitreous hemorrhages caused by a retinal vessel drawn into the vitreous cavity after posterior vitreous detachment without a retinal tear have hitherto not been accorded the attention they deserve.