Vitreous Hemorrhage Specialist

Retina Associates of New York

Retina Specialists & Retina Surgeons located in Upper East Side, New York, NY & Forest Hills, Forest Hills, NY

The clear gel-like substance in your eye, vitreous humor, allows light to pass through to your retina so you can see objects clearly. A vitreous hemorrhage indicates bleeding in the gel, which may lead to visual changes or total vision loss. The board-certified specialists at Retina Associates of New York are experts in eye conditions and can diagnose and treat vitreous hemorrhage. These dedicated physicians serve NYC from three locations: Upper East Side, Manhattan; Forest Hills, Queens; and New Rochelle, with a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical center located next door to the Manhattan office. For an evaluation, call the office or book online.

Vitreous Hemorrhage Q & A

What is a vitreous hemorrhage?

A vitreous hemorrhage refers to bleeding in the gel-like substance that fills your eye. The blood may block light from reaching your retina and cause vision changes. If the bleeding in your eye is severe, it can lead to total vision loss.

What causes vitreous hemorrhage?

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vitreous hemorrhage. Poorly controlled blood sugar damages your blood vessels, especially the small blood vessels found in your eye. This damage may eventually cause bleeding, leading to the vitreous hemorrhage.

You can also develop vitreous hemorrhage from an eye or head injury or from retinal damage, such as a hole,.

What are the symptoms of vitreous hemorrhage?

Vitreous hemorrhage may develop very quickly and unexpectedly. Common symptoms include:

Blurred vision
Increase in floaters
Flashes of light

You may notice that these symptoms are worse when you first get up in the morning. This is because the blood has settled in the back of the eye, leading to drastic visual changes.

What are the treatments for vitreous hemorrhage?

Treatment for your vitreous hemorrhage depends on the severity of the bleeding. The team at Retina Associates of New York creates personalized treatment plans based on the underlying cause of your bleeding and your symptoms.

If the bleeding is mild or has stopped altogether, your retina specialist may recommend monitoring and offer suggestions on how to minimize visual changes.

They may also direct treatment at the underlying cause. For example, if your vitreous hemorrhage is due to diabetic retinopathy, they may recommend treatments to improve eye health such as laser photocoagulation or an injection of medicine into the eye.

Your eye care specialist may also suggest a vitrectomy, a surgical procedure that requires removal of the vitreous humor from your eye and repair of the source of your bleeding. Retina Associates of New York has a state-of-the-art surgical center located next door to the Manhattan office where the surgeons perform all necessary eye procedures.

Vitreous hemorrhage can cause sudden changes to your vision. For expert care and evaluation, contact Retina Associates of New York by phone or online today.

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