Hyphema is defined as?

• A. Blood in the anterior chamber, often due to trauma
• B. Blood in the posterior chamber
• C. Blood in the vitreous
• D. Blood in the cornea

Answer: (A)

Hyphema means blood in the anterior chamber, the space between the cornea and the iris. This is usually the result of trauma that ruptures vessels in the iris or ciliary body, allowing blood to pool in the front part of the eye. The key idea is that the hemorrhage is located in the anterior chamber, which is why this definition is correct.

Blood in the posterior chamber would indicate a hemorrhage behind the iris, not in the front chamber, so it’s not hyphema. Blood in the vitreous is a vitreous (posterior segment) hemorrhage, presenting with floaters or a hazy red reflex. Blood in the cornea isn’t a standard description because the cornea itself has no blood vessels, so that would not be hyphema.