[Unilateral vitreous hemorrhage secondary to massive subretinal hemorrhage in 5 cases]

Massive subretinal and vitreous hemorrhage (MSVH) in the elderly is usually complicated with senile disciform macular degeneration (SDMD). The authors treated 5 cases, averaging 59 years old, with MSVH in unilateral eye. They noticed sudden loss of vision and underwent vitreous surgery. After operation, organized hematomas were seen beneath the retina, which disappeared without scar formation, leaving atrophic lesions of the RPE and neural retina. The final visual outcome was NLP to 0.8, depending upon the location of subretinal hemorrhage. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated no subretinal neovascularization. Contralateral eyes showed no sign of SDMD during follow-up period of up to 6.5 years. These cases may suggest a pathogenesis different from the hemorrhagic type of SDMD.