Eye Diseases and Conditions Slideshow Pictures Pink Eye Slideshow Pictures Cataracts Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

John D. Sheppard, MD, MMSc

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Treatment

Treatment of hyphema depends on how readily you comply with instructions. Following directions for care is important. About 15%-20% of people with a hyphema have further bleeding in three to five days. This is why compliance with care is so important.

Blood usually reabsorbs, but the doctor must make sure the process is resolving as expected. If intraocular pressure increases or if bleeding reoccurs, you may be hospitalized.

• You will be instructed to do the following as part of home follow-up care:
  
  
  • Rest in bed with the head of the bed elevated as much as you can tolerate.
    
    
  • Do not engage in any strenuous activity.
    
    
  • Do not take any medicines containing aspirin. It promotes bleeding. This also includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Motrin), or many other arthritis medications.
    
    
  • You may take a mild pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), but do not take too much. You want to know if eye pain occurs, because it may be related to an increase in pressure in the eye. If eye pain increases, return to the doctor immediately.
    
    
  • Place drops in your eye three to four times a day or exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Drops of 1% atropine may be prescribed. Steroid drops may also be prescribed to fight inflammation and pain.
    
    
  • Cover the eye with a shield to protect it from further injury.
    
    
  • If you have a microhyphema or a small, layered hyphema, you might be asked to see your ophthalmologist every day for five days and then a week after that. A one-month follow-up appointment may also be required. At these visits, the ophthalmologist checks your vision, intraocular pressure, and the anterior chamber of the eye.

• Children and elderly people may not be able to follow the home treatment plan. They and others who have complications may be admitted to the hospital for close observation. Treatment is similar to that suggested for home follow-up care.
  
  
  • Medicine may be given to prevent you from vomiting; such activity that involves straining increases pressure in the eye.
    
    
  • If eye pressure increases, certain medicine, such as a beta-blocker, may be delivered through eyedrops into the eye. An occasional increase in pressure can be caused by the red blood cells obstructing the meshwork of the eye. When the meshwork is obstructed, the normal flow of liquid through the eye is interrupted. This backup of fluid in the eye increases the pressure in the eye.