P 432
Hyphema and raised intraocular pressure due to blunt ocular trauma
A. Viestenz
Background: We explored the dependence of increased intraocular pressure on the initial hyphema level in ocular contusions.
Patients and methods: A tension profile of the injured eye was performed in 212 patients younger than 50 years with blunt ocular trauma. The duration between trauma and first ophthalmological examination was not longer than 3 days.
Results: The difference of maximum of intraocular pressure in different hyphema levels was significant: no hyphema = 19,9 ± 7,3 mmHg, up to ¼ of anterior chamber = 21,0 ± 8,7 mmHg, ¼ - ½ of anterior chamber = 24,1 ± 9,8 mmHg, ½ - ¾ of anterior chamber = 32,5 ± 18,3 mmHg, more than ¾ of anterior chamber = 35,3 ± 17,5 mmHg (t-test: p=0,009).
Conclusion: Eyes with large hyphemas have a higher risk to develop increased intraocular pressure peaks. However, pressure spikes are also possible in eyes with small hyphemas.
Department of Ophthalmology of the University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, D - 91054 Erlangen, Germany