Vitreous Hemorrhage inPediatric Age Group

Abstract

Haemorrhage is the commonest abnormality seen affecting the vitreous in the paediatric age range and is usually secondary to trauma. Vitreous haemorrhage following trauma suggests retinal or choroidal detach-ment or foreign body. On sonography a few low level echoes become apparent within 48 h and thereafter echoes increase with increasing organization of the haemorrhage resulting in diffuse echogenicity. With time (usually 2–8 weeks) the diffuse echoes re-solve but posterior vitreous detachment may occur Vitreous haemorrhage in children. One of the most common causes of vitreous haemorrhage in children is trauma. The shaken-baby syndrome should be considered in otherwise unexplained vitreous haemorrhage in a child. Retinoblastoma and leukemias in children can present as a vitreous haemorrhage. In infants, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy or Terson’s syndrome can cause vitreous haemorrhage. Paediatric retinal diseases that can often present with vitreous haemorrhage include familial exudative viteo-retinopathy retinoschisis, high myopia with retinal tears/ detachment, retinopathy of prematurity, retinitspigmentosa. Early surgery may prove beneficial in these eyes as delay can lead to both amblyopia and anisometropia.