Diabetic dense premacular hemorrhage. A possible indication for prompt vitrectomy.

A review was undertaken of nine eyes of nine patients who suffered tightly bound dense premacular hemorrhage as a complication of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Patients who did not receive vitrectomy within four weeks of the onset of the hemorrhage all progressed to late macular traction and visual acuity no better than 6/30. Of the five patients who received vitrectomy within four weeks of the onset of the hemorrhage, none developed significant late macular traction and all achieved visual acuity of 6/12 or better. It is possible that the tightly bound dense premacular hemorrhage represents an indication for vitrectomy within one month of its onset.