AIM: To analyze the etiology and clinical characteristics of patients with vitreous hemorrhage, and to provide a scientific evidence for the clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention of vitreous hemorrhage.

METHODS: We has collected and investigate 1 413 cases(1 437 eyes)from March 2013 to November 2019 in the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, which had treated with vitreous hemorrhage as initial diagnosis and under-went pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)treatment.

RESULTS: Among 1 437 eyes with vitreous hemorrhage, the major causes of vitreous hemorrhage were proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)(37.72%), retinal vein occlusion(RVO)(27.00%), and ocular trauma(13.15%). Analysis of the etiology of the age group, among 308 eyes in the youth group, the main causes were ocular trauma(35.06%), PDR(22.73%)and Ealse disease(11.69%); 590 eyes in the middle-aged group. Based on the affected eyes, the main causes were PDR(45.08%), RVO(28.98%)and ocular trauma(10.00%); From 539 eyes in the elderly group, the main cause was PDR(38.22%)and RVO(34.69%)and retinal tears and retinal detachment(RT/RD)(7.05%). There were significant differences in the etiology of each age group(P=0.003). Gender etiology analysis showed that among 859 males with vitreous hemorrhage, the top 3 pathogenic factors were PDR(36.32%), RVO(21.65%)and ocular trauma(18.98%); among 578 female eyes, the main causes were respectively for PDR(39.79%), RVO(34.95%)and RT/RD(6.92%), there was a significant difference in etiology between males and females(P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: PDR, RVO and ocular trauma were the main causes of vitreous hemorrhage in our study. Different age groups and genders caused different causes of vitreous hemorrhage. PDR and RVO were the primary causes of vitreous hemorrhage in middle-aged and elderly men and women; Ocular trauma was the primary cause of young male patients; PDR was the primary cause of young female patients.