Hyphaema & Hypopyon

Hypopyon

• accumulation of white blood cells that form a whitish layer of fluid in the lower portion of the eye’s anterior chamber

causes:

• Endophthalmitis
• infectious corneal ulcer
• severe iridocyclitis
• retained intraocular foreign body, 
• intraocular tumor necrosis
• recurrent corneal erosion
• drugs (eg, rifampin)
• seen post cataract surgery

Hyphaema

• Accumulation of red blood cells within the anterior chamber
• Risk of secondary glaucoma – blood clots

causes

• after blunt or lacerating trauma 🡪 consider
• non-accidental injury in children
• after intraocular surgery
• iris melanoma
• myotonic dystrophy
• keratouveitis (e.g., herpes zoster), leukemia
• hemophilia
• von Willebrand disease

Rx: bedrest at 30 degrees, Topical corticosteroids

If inc intraocular pressure 🡪  topical aqueous suppressants (beta-blockers and alpha-agonists)