Clinical characteristics and mortality rates for suprachoroidal hemorrhage: seven-year experience at a tertiary eye center

Purpose To investigate comorbidities and medications associated with acute (ASCH) and delayed (DSCH) suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH), and to explore visual outcomes and mortality following SCH. Methods Retrospective review of SCH cases diagnosed at a tertiary center between 2013 and 2019. Demographics, history, surgery type, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and mortality data were reviewed. Results Fifty eyes of 50 patients experienced SCH related to surgery: 15 (30%) ASCH and 35 (70%) DSCH. Glaucoma surgery was the most common preceding surgery, and SCH was more likely to be delayed in glaucoma surgery relative to other surgeries ( p = 0.001). The proportions of patients on anticoagulant, antiplatelet, or NSAID medications were 30% ( n = 15), 52% ( n = 26), and 12% ( n = 6), respectively. The mean preoperative IOP was 25.0 ± 10.2 mmHg. The mean final best corrected visual acuity did not significantly differ between DSCH and ASCH (logMAR 1.92 vs. 2.36; p = 0.39). After controlling for pre-drainage visual acuity, final visual acuity was not statistically significantly different between eyes that were drained versus those that were not drained ( p = 0.06). Of all 50 patients, the mortality rate was 12% with a mean time to mortality after SCH of 754 ± 564 days for those who died. Conclusion DSCH was more common than ASCH, with glaucoma surgery being the most common procedure to result in SCH. Visual outcomes and mortality rate were comparable between ASCH and DSCH. Further research is needed regarding the role of surgical drainage on improving visual outcomes in eyes with SCH.