Tranexamic acid in the prevention of secondary haemorrhage after traumatic hyphaema

The occurrence of secondary haemorrhage after traumatic hyphaema was studied in 239 patients treated in the Department of Ophthalmology, Tampere Central Hospital during the years 1972 to 1980. From 1972 to 1976, 126 patients with traumatic hyphaema were confined to bed and treated without antifibrinolytic agents; nine (7.1%) of these patients developed secondary haemorrhage. From 1977 to 1980, none of 58 patients with traumatic hyphema treated with tranexamic acid developed secondary haemorrhage which was seen in 3 (5.5%) of 55 patients treated without antifibrinolytic agents; the activities of these patients were not restricted and the eyes were not patched. The resorption of the hyphaema was significantly delayed in the tranexamic acid treated patients. It is concluded that tranexamic acid delays resorption of the blood-clot sealing the damaged vessel and preventing secondary haemorrhage after traumatic hyphaema without bed-rest and binocular patching.