hyphema /hīfē″mə/ [Gk, hypo, under, haima, blood] , a hemorrhage into the anterior chamber of the eye, usually caused by a blunt trauma. The patient is treated by an ophthalmologist, who evaluates the need for evacuation of the blood and the use of mydriatic or miotic medications or a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Glaucoma may result from recurrent bleeding. Also called hyphaemia, hyphemia.
