Subretinal haemorrhage in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 83; no. 7; pp. 878 - 878g
• Main Authors: McCASLAND, BARRY J, MENDICINO, MARIA E, NEWMAN, NANCY J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.07.1999; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Aneurysms; Female; Headaches; Hemorrhage; Humans; Hypertension; Intracranial Hypertension - complications; Letters to the Editor; Obesity - complications; Retinal Hemorrhage - etiology
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.83.7.878g

Among the more frequently cited aetiologies are trauma, choroidal tumour, aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, and retinal vascular disease such as diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy. Acute increases in intracranial pressure induce a venous stasis retinopathy, which may result in intraocular bleeding. 4 Given that the mechanism of disc oedema in IIH is raised intracranial pressure, it would follow that retinal haemorrhages should be common in this disorder. Pre-existing communicating vessels between the retinal and choroidal circulations probably dilate in response to long standing papilloedema, creating optociliary shunt vessels of varying sizes. 5 Perhaps these shunts unload the increased venous pressure on the retinal circulation, reducing the incidence of large intraocular haemorrhages from venous stasis retinopathy.