Subhyaloid hemorrhage treated with SF6 gas injection

A 72-year old woman with a premacular subhyaloid hemorrhage could not be treated by laser photodisruption due to a thick posterior cortical vitreous. Pure sulfur hexafluoride (SF6, 0.3 mL) gas was injected intravitreally without recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, and facedown positioning was recommended for 5 days. Posterior vitreous detachment was induced and the hemorrhage dispersed into the vitreous cavity. Eight weeks later, her visual acuity had recovered from hand motions to 20/40. Fluorescein angiography revealed an arterial macroaneurysm in the inferotemporal retina. Intravitreal SF6 gas injection without recombinant tissue plasminogen activator may be an alternative method for treating a relatively new subhyaloid hemorrhage.