Traumatic hyphema: a series of 40 cases.

Purpose To study the clinical characteristics of traumatic hyphema and to discuss t he place of medical and surgical treatment. Material and methods A retrospective study of 40 patients hospitalized between 1991 and 1995 for traumatic hyphema was conducted. Results The average age of patients was 16 years. There were 87.5 % males. Sex rati o was 7.1. Dangerous games were responsible for injury in 40 % of cases. 60 % were grade 2 or less. With medical treatment, outcome was favorable in 6 7.5 % of eyes with hyphema, often within 2 to 5 days. However, complication s occurred in 35 % of cases: secondary hemorrhage, ocular hypertony, blood staining of the cornea and posterior synechiae. Only 4 cases needed surgica l treatment, 3 of them developed secondary hemorrhage after surgery. Conclusion Traumatic hyphema is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. More preventiv e efforts are needed especially, in children. Outcome is generally good if medical treatment was quickly instituted. Surgical treatment must be reserv ed for cases with refractory persistant hypertony, because of the risk of s econdary bleeding.