What Vitreous Haemorrhage Is
['\nBlood leaking into the vitreous gel scatters light and appears as a sudden swarm of floaters, haze, smoke or significantly darkened vision — usually painless. Causes include bleeding from proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears or detachment, retinal vein occlusion, and occasionally trauma or vessels overlying scars. Because a tear or detachment can hide behind the blood, the urgency of assessment is high even when the eye feels comfortable.
\nWhen the view is blocked, B-scan ultrasound examines the retina through the blood. Management treats the cause: observation for smaller clears, laser for the driving abnormality once visible, and vitrectomy for dense, non-clearing haemorrhage — especially when the retina cannot be monitored or a detachment is suspected. Any new shower of floaters with flashes or a shadow is same-day territory; do not wait it out.
\n']Common questions
Will the blood clear by itself?
Smaller haemorrhages often clear over weeks; dense or non-clearing bleeds may need surgery — the decision rests on vision, cause and what the ultrasound shows.
Is vitreous haemorrhage an emergency?
The bleeding itself is often observed, but the possible hidden tear/detachment makes prompt assessment essential — treat new floaters with flashes as urgent.
Can it recur?
Yes, if the underlying cause (for example proliferative diabetic disease) remains active — which is why cause-directed treatment and follow-up matter.
Does B-scan hurt?
No — it is a painless ultrasound probe on the closed eyelid.
How fast is recovery after vitrectomy for blood?
Vision often improves within days of surgery, with further gains as the eye settles; individual timelines are given at review.