• Karolinne Maia Rocha, Elisabeth Nogueira Martins, Luiz Alberto S Melo, and Nilva Simeren Bueno de Moraes.
• Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.
• J AAPOS. 2004 Aug 1; 8 (4): 357-61.

PurposeTo evaluate the clinical outcome of children with traumatic hyphema treated on an outpatient basis.MethodsA prospective cases series. Thirty-five children with traumatic hyphema were treated as outpatients for the ocular injury from February 2002 to February 2003. Data regarding initial and final visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, hyphema size,ophthalmoscopy, intraocular pressure, rebleeding, clearance time, and medical and surgical intervention were recorded.ResultsThirty (85.7%) children were male, and the major cause of traumatic hyphema was domestic tools (14 cases, 40.0%). Twenty-four patients (68.6%) presented low grades of hyphema. Seventeen patients (48.6%) had intraocular pressures higher than 24 mm Hg. The most common lesions associated with traumatic hyphema were corneal injuries (16 cases, 45.7%). The median final visual acuity was 20/25. Unsatisfactory final visual acuity (worse than 20/30) was statistically associated with ocular posterior segment lesions (P = 0.009) and grade of hyphema (P = 0.004). The grade of hyphema was also related to intraocular hypertension (P = 0.018) and time for hemorrhage absorption (P < 0.001). Nine patients (25.7%) underwent surgical intervention. Rebleeding occurred in three patients (8.6%).ConclusionsOutpatient management is a feasible option for children with hyphema. Associated posterior ocular segment injuries and hyphema of greater magnitude were related to the worst final visual acuities.

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