[Traumatic hyphema caused by contusion in Zaire].

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical characteristics of hyphema.

METHODS

Records of all 57 consecutive patients with traumatic hyphema due to non perforating ocular injury seen during a ten-year period (from 1982 to 1991) were reviewed. All patients were outpatients and were treated with topical application of corticosteroids with or without topical application of 0.5 or 1% atropine sulfate and antibiotics. For an intraocular pressure greater than 24 mmHg, topical timolol maleate 0.5% and, if necessary, oral acetazolamide sodium were used.

RESULTS

There were 49 (86%) male and 8 (14%) female for sex ratio of 6:1. The average age of patients was 20.2 years (range, 2 to 61 years). Blows were responsible for injury in 53%; projectiles for 30% and explosions for 7% of all hyphemas. The most common associated injuries to the eye included cornea edema (40%), cataract (36%) and mydriasis (26%). Posterior synechiae (25%) and blood staining of the cornea (22%) were the most frequent complications that occurred. Secondary haemorrhage occurred in 7% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Heavily pigmented eye, proptosis, paucity of facilities for care may be responsible of the high rate of complications.