Posters

Causes of hyposphagma

Poster Details

First Author: D.Mpakas GREECE

Co Author(s): A. Anyfantis   V. Kolokoutsas   P. Karamanos              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Hyposphagma is the historical greek term that describes subconjunctival hemorrhage. It is a benign, self-limiting condition. In the present study we examined cases of non-traumatic spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhage to determine if there was an obvious cause.

Setting:

General Hospital of Kastoria, Greece

Methods:

34 patients with spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhage were examined (21 men and 13 women, aged 38-84). Patients were reassured that no treatment was necessary and recession was expected within 10-15 days. There were measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure (BP), and history taking.

Results:

None of the patients reported a history of ocular trauma or any kind of injury. All IOP measurements were within normal limits (<21 mmHg), although one of the patients was under therapy for glaucoma with latanoprost eye drops. One patient had a BP of 170/105 mmHg and was referred for evaluation by an internal pathologist, while the rest were within normal limits (<140/90 mmHg), although 19 of them were receiving antihypertensive treatment. 6 patients reported some kind of anti-coagulation therapy (acetylsalicylic acid, anti-platelet, vitamin K antagonists or newer anti-thrombotics).

Conclusions:

Spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhage is a benign condition; nevertheless it is very alarming to the patient. In the majority of cases no systemic correlation or underlying cause can be found. Sometimes there can be established a history of sudden severe venous congestion to the head, as in coughing, sneezing, vomiting, straining, or Valsalva maneuver. No treatment is required, and unless the condition is recurrent, no evaluation is necessary.

Financial Disclosure:

None