Eye drop products that “get the red out” are designed to constrict dilated blood vessels for “bloodshot eyes.” They do not do anything for the blood/redness from a subconjunctival hemorrhage. There is no treatment that will make the blood go away any faster. Typically the blood will resorb on its own over a few weeks. Is there treatment for a subconjunctival hemorrhage? But there is no need to discontinue your blood thinners solely because of a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Just like anticoagulant medications (blood thinners) such as aspirin may make you more prone to bleeding and bruising, they may make you more prone to subconjunctival hemorrhages. Is a subconjunctival hemorrhage related to my blood thinners? People with a history of high blood pressure may be more prone to develop subconjunctival hemorrhages. Is a subconjunctival hemorrhage a sign of high blood pressure? A subconjunctival hemorrhage is almost always a benign incident and will not affect your vision. Is a subconjunctival hemorrhage dangerous or a threat to my vision?
Often, people are aware of something different about the eye or slight irritation if the blood is elevated, but once the blood flattens out the eye generally feels completely normal. Other than the appearance of redness, usually a subconjunctival hemorrhage is painless. What are the symptoms of a subconjunctival hemorrhage? On the eye, unlike the skin, the conjunctiva is clear, so the blood appears brighter red.Įyelid bruising and subconjunctival hemorrhages
The blood absorbs into the tissues, and through the overlying skin the bruise appears dark blue or purple. like pain or impaired vision, it is most likely due to the hemorrhaging of tiny blood vessels underneath the conjunctiva. A bruise on the skin occurs when blood vessels are injured and leak blood underneath the skin. Those with eye blood vessel damage were 70 percent more likely to have a stroke during the study than those without the damage. Often, people will wake up with the hemorrhage and only notice it when they look in the mirror or someone mentions it to them.Ī subconjunctival hemorrhage is essentially a “bruise” on the white part of the eye. What causes a subconjunctival hemorrhage?Ī subconjunctival hemorrhage may occur as a result of an injury/trauma, from a bout of sneezing, coughing, or vomiting (anything that makes you strain), or may occur spontaneously.
The blood may then initially spread along the sclera (and appear larger) over the first 24 hours before it slowly absorbs away over the next few weeks. The blood then becomes trapped between the clear conjunctiva and the underlying white sclera. The conjunctiva can't absorb blood very quickly, so the blood gets trapped. In many ways, it's just like having a bruise on your skin.
When an eye becomes inflamed, such as in cases of conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), the conjunctival blood vessels are enlarged and dilated, and become much more visible.Ī subconjunctival hemorrhage (sometimes referred to as a “conjunctival hemorrhage” or “eye bleed”) occurs when one of the conjunctival blood vessels ruptures and leaks out blood. A subconjunctival hemorrhage (sub-kun-JUNK-tih-vul HEM-uh-ruj) occurs when a tiny blood vessel breaks just underneath the clear surface of your eye (conjunctiva). Usually these blood vessels are constricted and small, and barely visible. The conjunctiva has many fine delicate blood vessels that run through it. Rubbing too hard can cause minor trauma to your eyes, which may lead to a subconjunctival hemorrhage.The conjunctiva is the clear, very thin, moist membrane that covers the white part of the eye (the sclera). If you need to rub your eyes, rub them gently. If the bleeding on the surface of your eye has a clearly identifiable cause, such as a bleeding disorder or blood-thinning medication, ask your doctor if you can take any steps to reduce the risk of a subconjunctival hemorrhage. If your condition is due to trauma, your doctor may evaluate your eye to ensure you don't have other eye complications or injury. Health complications from a subconjunctival hemorrhage are rare.