A Rare Case Presenting with “Bloody Tears”: Idiopathic Unilateral Hemolacria

Abstract

Hemolacria is known as bloody tears and described as blood coming from the eyes. Eye infections, trauma, bleeding disorders, eye and lacrimal canal malignancies, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, retrograde epistaxis and endometriosis have been reported among the causes of hemolacria. When no underlying cause can be found, this condition is defined as idiopathic hemolacri and is knokn as a benign and self-limiting condition. In this case report we present a 15-year-old an adolescent boy with bloody tears. He had pain around the right eye and headache on the right side of head. He had no other findings as discharge in the eyes, redness, blurred vision, or bleeding in the nose. On physical examination; we observed red fluid starting from the right punctum. Visual examination revealed complete visual capacity, natural bilateral anterior segments, clear fundus, natural and soft retina, and no foreign body or infection findings. Etiological factor was not found in the diagnostic investigations of the patient. The patient was followed with the diagnosis of idiopathic unilateral hemolacria. The hemolacria occurred twice a week and limited itself within several days. Hemolacria is a rare condition and should be evaluated together with pediatricians and ophthalmologists within a multidisciplinary approach.