What Is Hyphema?

A hyphema is when blood collects inside the front of the eye. This happens between the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped window at the front of the eye) and the iris (the colored part of the eye). The blood may cover part or all of the iris and the pupil (the round, dark circle in the middle of your eye). If you have a hyphema, your vision might be partly or totally blocked in that eye.

A hyphema usually happens when an injury causes a tear of the iris or pupil of the eye. Sometimes people mistake a broken blood vessel in the front of the eye for a hyphema. A broken blood vessel in the eye is a common, harmless condition called subconjunctival hemorrhage. A subconjunctival hemorrhage does not hurt. A hyphema, though, is usually painful. A hyphema must be treated properly or it can cause permanent vision problems.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is when blood appears in the white of the eye from a broken blood vessel.

Symptoms

Hyphema symptoms include:

• bleeding in the front of the eye
• sensitivity to light
• pain in the eye
• blurry, clouded or blocked vision

Hyphema is usually caused by injuries to the eye from accidents or playing sports. Hyphema can be caused by other, less common things, including:

• abnormal blood vessels on the surface of the iris
• eye infections caused by a herpes virus
• blood clotting problems
• problems with artificial lenses placed in the eye after cataract surgery
• very rarely, cancers of the eye

Always wear the right eye protection when playing sports.

Causes

Because most hyphemas happen because of sports injuries, it is important to wear protective eyewear. Sports injuries, especially with small balls like racquetballs, can cause serious eye problems. Besides hyphema, these injuries can cause cataracts, retinal detachments and glaucoma and lead to blindness. If you hurt your eye, see an ophthalmologist right away.