Intraocular Surgery and Choroidal Hemorrhage

Abstract

Every ophthalmologist who performs intraocular surgery over a number of years is likely to encounter the drama of expulsive choroidal hemorrhage. This complication has been estimated to occur in two of every 1,000 cases of cataract extraction.¹ In this issue of the Archives, two other closely related complications, delayed nonexpulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage² and limited choroidal hemorrhage,³ are reported. See also pp 1757 and 1761. Hemorrhage into the suprachoroidal space is, fortunately, not a common occurrence, but suprachoroidal effusion of limited extent and duration is a sequela of almost every operative procedure of the eye. An understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the ciliochoroidal space helps put ciliochoroidal detachments of all kinds into perspective.⁴ The middle and outer coats of the eye are in intimate contact, separated only by a thin layer of fluid. However, these two surfaces are not rigidly adherent to each other, and