Blood in the eye (hyphema)
Disease Information
Treatment & Care
Most children with a hyphema are treated in an emergency room. A physician who specializes in comprehensive eye care, called an ophthalmologist, may also be involved in your child’s care.
Treatment may include:
- eye drops
- a patch over the affected eye
- bed rest
- a ban on reading to limit eye movement
- elevating the head of your child's bed to about 40 degrees, which helps the body reabsorb the blood in the eye
- daily checks of the pressure inside the eye
Can there be complications with a hyphema?
In some cases, the injury may bleed again. Other possible complications include:
- Glaucoma or an increase in the pressure inside of the eye. If found, glaucoma must be closely monitored; increased pressure may cause loss of vision or blindness if untreated.
- Loss of vision
- Damage to different structures in the eye
