Massive intraocular hemorrhage associated with anticoagulation and age-related macular degeneration.

The clinicopathologic correlation of three eyes with massive intraocular hemorrhage in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy is reported. All three patients were apparently predisposed because of antecedent disciform macular degeneration. The hemorrhage arose from the extrachoroidal neovascular vessels within the disciform lesions and caused rupture of the retinal pigment epithelium with massive intraocular hemorrhage. Because of the risk of vision-threatening intraocular hemorrhage, patients with exudative macular degeneration requiring anticoagulant therapy should be managed by both ophthalmologists and internists.