The vitreous is normally a clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye. Vitreous hemorrhage, or bleed, results in a sudden change in vision as it blocks light moving through the vitreous to the retina. This hemorrhage specifically occurs in front of the retina in the posterior section of the eye.
The vitreous hemorrhage may be the result of an aneurysm of a blood vessel in the eye, trauma to the eye, a retinal tear, a retinal detachment, a new blood vessel (neovascularization) or as a result of diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell anemia, and carotid artery disease. Diabetics are particularly susceptible because the disease triggers the growth of new blood vessels within the eye. Vitreous hemorrhage occurs more frequently in patients over 50 but can occur at any age
Someone experiencing a vitreous hemorrhage may experience the sudden onset of blurry vision, light flashes, floaters (spots seemingly floating across the field of vision) or blindness.