Traumatic hyphema is a potentially serious problem, but the overall prognosis is good unless associated injuries are severe. Medical treatment is of little value for hyphema itslef but is useful for complications. Surgical treatment is hazardous and should be resorted to only in select circumstances. Severly of injury is more important than is treatment in determining the outcome. Practitioners should not feel obliged to use ritualistic therapy that they consider to be of uncertain value.