Common Causes Of Hyphema

Hyphema is one unsettling condition in which the anterior chamber of the eye (the area in front of the pupil) begins to fill with blood, pooling at the lower part of the eye due to gravity. Hyphema can range in severity from a low point where the presence of blood is subtle enough to avoid being detected by casual examination, or it can be severe to the point where it begins to layer and pool at the bottom of the anterior chamber. In particularly severe cases of hyphema, the anterior chamber will fill completely with blood. This nightmarish, advanced stage is called a blackball or eightball hyphema, denoting the anterior chamber has filled with blood and appears to be black, completely obscuring the pupil and iris. Learn what can cause hyphema now.

Eye Trauma

Eye trauma is the foremost cause of hyphema. The compression caused by trauma can lead to tearing around the anterior chamber, and the presence of blood in the eye. This is accidental in the majority of cases, usually related to an unintentional injury sustained during sports or another physical activity. In this event, the eye socket may also be damaged, and performing a CT scan is prudent. Additionally, nonaccidental trauma can lead to the development of hyphema. If this is suspected, due caution must be advised. While trauma to the eye is the leading cause of hyphema, it's possible for the condition to develop spontaneously.

Continue reading to reveal more potential causes of hyphema now.