Purpose: Premacular subhyaloid haemorrhage produces sudden, profound visual loss which may be prolonged if untreated. Nd:YAG laser treatment can create a posterior hyaloidotomy enabling rapid diffusion of subhyaloid haemorrhage into the vitreous gel. This study was performed to assess the results of Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy and to compare the outcome with similar conservatively managed cases.
Methods: Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy was performed in 6 patients with premacular subhyaloid haemorrhage. The aetiologies were Valsalva retinopathy, macroaneurysm, branch retinal vein occlusion, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (2 cases) and idiopathic. Four patients with premacular subhyaloid haemorrhage were managed conservatively. The aetiologies were Valsalva retinopathy (2 cases), macroaneurysm and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Results: Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy achieved rapid resolution of subhyaloid haemorrhage in all treated patients. Visual acuity improved to 6/9 or better in 4 patients, but was limited by ischaemic diabetic retinopathy in 2 patients. No patient had evidence of damage to the retina or choroid from treatment. Among the conservatively managed cases, 3 patients had slow resolution of the subhyaloid haemorrhage over 3-6 months. One patient with diabetic retinopathy demonstrated little improvement at 18 months.
Conclusion: Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy is a safe and effective procedure. It achieves rapid resolution of premacular subhyaloid haemorrhage with restoration of visual function, preventing the need for vitreoretinal surgery.