Spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage: etiology and management.

Spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage, without trauma, accounted for 317 patients (375 eyes) seen during a four-year period from July 1, 1975, to June 30, 1979. The most common causes were proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 39.2%; retinal tear, 12.1%; posterior vitreous detachment, 12%; vein occlusion, 10.4%; retinal detachment, 6.7%; intraocular lens, 3.2%; proliferative sickle retinopathy, 1.3%; miscellaneous, 7.4%; and unknown, 6.7%. Emphasis is placed on the importance of establishing the specific cause so that specific therapy may be instituted.