Corneal Hematoma from Diving?

[Kevrumbo]

Does glaucoma / elevated intraocular pressure predispose for this?

Unfortunately, that's another secondary complication/condition I have to worry about -increased IOP- because of all the corticosteroid eye drops I've had to use to treat the Hydrops/Keratoconus & corneal abrasions/allergies over the years. I regularly see my Ophthalmologist, who also is an avid diver, at least once every Quarter -and he hasn't yet recommended that I give up Scuba Diving . . .but that day may be coming soon.

 

[Pearlman]

Avoid mask squeeze and try not to Valsalva hard when you equalize, and everything should be fine. You will have a substantial amount of healing having gone on by a week post-injury.

I went to the Bangkok-Phuket hospital today, my I've never seen such sophisticated diagnosis tools and approach to collecting medical data about the patient ever in India. The doctor advised me not to dive because the Valsalva procedure might rupture a blood vessel again. I told him I'm going to take a chance still and see how it goes. That said I have no confidence I'll be able to strain hard during a valsalva and not damage anything. The whole left temple feels weak around the eyeball area. I'm going to take extra time descending and equalizing only a bit at a time...

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[uncfnp]

Think of subconjunctival hemorrhage as a bruise on the eye. Because the blood is overlying the white part of the eye it's appearance is very dramatic. And like a bruise, it is not a serious condition but rarely may be indicative of a bleeding disorder.

A hyphema is a more serious injury to the eye but fortunately much less common. Unlike a subconjunctival hemorrhage, a hyphema is bleeding behind the cornea and is often associated with direct trauma. My understanding is that a hyphema is possible with mask squeeze but the squeeze must be severe, as in an unconscious diver sinking without any equalization.

 

[Pearlman]

Think of subconjunctival hemorrhage as a bruise on the eye. Because the blood is overlying the white part of the eye it's appearance is very dramatic. And like a bruise, it is not a serious condition but rarely may be indicative of a bleeding disorder.

A hyphema is a more serious injury to the eye but fortunately much less common. Unlike a subconjunctival hemorrhage, a hyphema is bleeding behind the cornea and is often associated with direct trauma. My understanding is that a hyphema is possible with mask squeeze but the squeeze must be severe, as in an unconscious diver sinking without any equalization.

Thanks that sounds reassuring. The doc showed me an xray like "picture" of both my eyeballs that had taken with a device and confirmed the optic nerves and the cornea was intact. However he mentioned there was danger of swelling the eye further if I burst a blood vessel again during valsalva. I'll have to be careful.

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[DocVikingo]

Does glaucoma/elevated intraocular pressure predispose for this?

With acute angle-closure glaucoma, very likely yes.

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

 

[Pearlman]

4 days of diving and no complications so far. I barely needed to equalize and always without any strain or effort. I guess visiting an ENT doctor before my trip and cleaning my ear canal out with a flush saved me from straining. The eye is improving since yesterday with half my eye now pale yellow instead of the glowing red l.e.d bulb it was for a week.

Thanks for all the assurances folks!

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