Vitreous haemorrhage in children.
BACKGROUND
Vitreous haemorrhage in early childhood is rare and may cause few symptoms.


METHODS
Three children (aged 1, 2 and 6 years) with no history of trauma, presented with squint or unreactive pupil. Unilateral dense vitreous haemorrhage was found in all three children.


RESULTS
Rapid clearing of the vitreous opacities within a few weeks made surgical intervention unnecessary in two children. A 6-year-old boy underwent a vitrectomy. Thorough investigations revealed angle recession, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) scars and an orbital floor bone fracture, respectively, suggesting ocular trauma as the cause for the haemorrhage in all three cases. With early amblyopia treatment, the visual outcome was good.


CONCLUSIONS
Trauma appears to be a likely cause for vitreous haemorrhage in small children. Even if there is a risk for the development of amblyopia, observation may be a reasonable approach in some cases, since even dense vitreous haemorrhage may resorb rapidly in young children.
Wirth
M G
MG
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. gabriela.wirth@usz.ch
Helbig
H
H
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013285:Strabismus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*