vitreous hemorrhage

DEFINITION of vitreous hemorrhage

vitreous hemorrhage occurs when blood leaks into the vitreous body, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of the eye’s volume. The blood can be located within the gel itself, in the retro-hyaloid space (sub-hyaloid), or in the Canal of Cloquet.

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ETYMOLOGY of vitreous hemorrhage

latin

• Vitreous: Derived from the Latin vitreus, meaning “glassy” or “transparent,” from the root vitrum (“glass”). This refers to the clear, gel-like consistency of the healthy vitreous humor.
• Hemorrhage: Derived from the Greek haimorrhagia.
  • Haima: “Blood”
  • Rhegnunai: “To break” or “burst”
  • Combined, it literally means a “bursting forth of blood”.

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DERIVATIONS of vitreous hemorrhage

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Related Clinical Terms

Term	Definition
Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)	Separation of the vitreous gel from the retina; a common mechanical cause of VH
Neovascularization	Growth of new, fragile blood vessels (often due to diabetes) that are prone to leaking into the vitreous
Terson Syndrome	vitreous hemorrhage occurring in association with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (intracranial bleed)
Ghost Cell Glaucoma	A complication where degenerated red blood cells (rigid “ghost cells”) block the trabecular meshwork, raising intraocular pressure
Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV)	The surgical procedure to remove the vitreous humor and blood; often required if the blood does not clear spontaneously

Coder’s Corner: ICD-10-CM & CPT

ICD-10-CM Codes (Category H43.11 - Vitreous Hemorrhage)

• H43.11: Vitreous hemorrhage, right eye

• H43.12: Vitreous hemorrhage, left eye

• H43.13: Vitreous hemorrhage, bilateral

• H43.10: Vitreous hemorrhage, unspecified eye

Coding Tips:

• Excludes1 Notes: Standard coding guidelines typically exclude traumatic vitreous hemorrhage from H43.11, directing coders to injury codes (S05.-) if the bleed is due to current trauma.

• Diabetes Hierarchy: If the patient has Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) with VH, look to combination codes (e.g., E11.35-) rather than coding H43.11 separately, unless specific payer rules apply.​

• Common Procedures (CPT):

  • 67036: Vitrectomy, mechanical, pars plana approach.

  • 76510: Ophthalmic ultrasound, diagnostic; B-scan (often medically necessary to view the retina when hemorrhage obscures the fundus view).

Med roots Appendix A Prefixes Appendix B Combining Forms Appendix C Suffixes Appendix D Suffix forms