We do not run a vitro retinal service at Queen's Hospital. Please refer to the patient's local unit. Local units to Queen's include: Whipps Cross Hospital and Moorfield Eye Hospital

For urgent advice in hours call: 01708 435 000 ext. 6662

Vitreo-retinal related conditions and advice

1. Vitreous haemorrhage
2. Retinal detachment

1. Vitreous haemorrhage

Main causes include:

• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
• Trauma
• Hemorrhagic posterior vitreous detachment
• Retinal detachment
• Exudative age-related macular degeneration
• Retinal vein occlusion
• Intraocular tumor

If suspected the patient should be referred to an ophthalmologist for further work up within the next few days.

Please do not send the patient to the Emergency Eye Clinic without prior discussion.

2. Retinal detachment

Patients with retinal detachment may present with a history offlashing lights, floaters or a vision loss described as a curtain going over their vision. See Figure 16.

Figure 16

 

There are 3 types of retinal detachment:

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

This could be due to trauma, surgery or extended from a pre-existing tear which are more common in large, myopic eyes.

Tractional retinal detachment

Is due to the formation of fibrous membranes that cause traction on the retina, often in advanced diabetic eye disease.

Exudative or hemorrhagic retinal detachment

Due to accumulation of blood or exudative sub-retinal fluid such as in inflammatory conditions or ocular tumors.