Massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage: secondary treatment and outcome.

PURPOSE: Massive suprachoroidal expulsive hemorrhage (SCH) is a dramatic and devastating intraocular complication of intraocular surgery and trauma that can result in total loss of vision. The aim of our study was to present the results of secondary surgical treatment of eyes following massive SCH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated 10 patients suffering from massive SCH by combined radial sclerotomies for suprachoroidal drainage and vitrectomy with use of perfluorocarbon and instillation of silicone oil. We analyzed the clinical characteristics, visual acuity and anatomical status before and after secondary treatment.

RESULTS: Visual acuity of all eyes suffering from SCH was light perception. Postoperatively five patients with SCH showed either no improvement of function or visual acuity of counting fingers. An increase in visual acuity to maximal 0.1 was seen in four eyes; one patient achieved 0.6. With a minimum of 6 months' follow-up, four eyes developed hypotony, two eyes became phthisical, and in two eyes recurrent traction retinal detachment occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: Secondary treatment by combined suprachoroidal drainage by sclerotomies and vitrectomy should be performed to minimize the damaging effect of choroidal hemorrhage.