Management of Traumatic Hyphema and Prevention of Its Complications
Evan J Chen, Airaj Fasiuddin
Abstract
Hyphema is defined as an accumulation of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye. Numerous conditions can lead to the development of hyphema, with blunt and penetrating trauma serving as the most common etiologies. Although the annual incidence of hyphema is relatively low, this condition must be recognized timely in order to manage and prevent its complications, such as glaucoma and corneal blood staining. This case report presents a 17-year-old adolescent who developed a hyphema complicated by a transient elevation in intraocular pressure following a high-speed motor vehicle accident. She responded to medical treatment and showed no signs of glaucomatous optic nerve damage at the end of her treatment course. The pathophysiology, clinical signs and symptoms, complications, medical and surgical treatments, and prognosis of hyphema are subsequently discussed.