Blood in the eye

[salmagal]

Hi wakened this morning with blood in my eye have recently finished 4 treatments of rituximab also prednisolone started on 20 mg reduced to 15mg then down to 10mg last week phoned clinic for count today had blood done yesterday count at 25 should I be worried by blood salmagal

[Older_Guy_With_ITP]

Hi Salmagal,,

I found that I had blood in my eye 1 week ago. It was what led to the discovery that I had a relapse of ITP after 27 years of remission. In my case, I was examined that night in the E/R by an ophthalmologist who called in a vitreous retinal specialist to see me the following afternoon, who determined that I had a tiny tear in the vitreous lining of my retina. The retina specialist "spot welded" the tear with a laser that very afternoon, and it only took about 5 minutes. They told me that a tear such as I had was part of the normal process of aging, but that it was unusual for it to bleed so much into the eye, and my excessive bleeding was due to the ITP. My platelet count was measured as low as 27000 as of 1 week ago.

I am following up with the retina tear specialist this afternoon, and expect that he will say that the issue in my eye is taken care of. The larger issue for me right now is the ITP. A hematologist started treating me with steroids and then did 2 days of IVIG therapy on Monday and Tuesday of this week. I see him later today also, and am waiting to see what effect the IVIG had, if any.

I am very surprised to hear of someone else who had bleeding into the eye which sounds like it is connected to ITP in your case. I was under the assumption that it is a rare manifestation with ITP, but I could very well be wrong in that assumption. I do suggest you see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Make sure that he/she knows about your ITP. I was told that the blood "floaties" will gradually clear out of my eye in the next several months, and that they should not do any additional damage. But I did need to get the tear repaired.

I hope this will be of help to you.

[Ltinny]

I have ITP as well, along with lupus. About 8 months ago, I woke up and 1 eye was all bloodshot on one side. There was no pain, and I didn't hit it or anything. My platelets were about 40 then. I kept watch on it, and within 24-36 hours it had completely cleared. It looked nasty, but really I had no issue with vision or pain. ITP is a very odd condition and very volatile.