Relationship between the extent of subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraocular hemorrhages in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between the extent of subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraocular hemorrhages in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total, of 63 patients (25 men and 38 women, mean age 58 years). The subarachnoid hemorrhage quantity was graded according to the Fisher scale and compared with hemorrhages in the ocular fundus. RESULTS: Either vitreous or preretinal hemorrhages in either one or both eyes (vitreous hemorrhages) were present in 16 patients (25%). Retinal hemorrhages in either one or both eyes (retinal hemorrhages) were present in 12 patients (19%). Intraocular hemorrhage was absent in the other 35 patients (56%). The incidence of vitreous hemorrhage tended to be higher than the incidence of retinal hemorrhage or of the absence of hemorrhage as the rate of subarachnoid hemorrhage increased (Kruskal-Wallis, p 0.05). CONCLUSION: The onset of vitreous hemorrhage appears to be related to the extent of subarachnoid hemorrhage but the onset of retinal hemorrhage is not.