Treatment of retrobulbar haemorrhage in accident and emergency departments

Retrobulbar haemorrhage is a rare complication of orbital injury or surgery. After injury the first clinicians to see these patients are often the staff of accident and emergency departments. This survey was instigated after several patients had been referred to our care irreversibly blind. A multiple choice questionnaire was devised and sent to 90 doctors working in accident and emergency departments in Scotland. A total of 57 (63%) were returned of which 55 were complete enough to analyse. The range of respondents was: consultants (n=6), associate specialists (n=3), senior registrars (n=3), registrars (n=4), senior house officer (n=35), and clinical assistants (n=4). Twenty nine of the 35 senior house officers (83%) were unable to diagnose and treat retrobulbar haemorrhage. Most consultants, senior registrars, registrars and associate specialists were significantly better in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition (P=0.001). We conclude that there is an unacceptably high incidence of blindness as a result of inappropriate diagnosis and treatment of retrobulbar haemorrhage. We have therefore designed a protocol for accident departments which should help reduce the incidence of blindness.