Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Call a ProviderPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to Call a Provider
Prevention
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Causes of Blood in the White of the Eye
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is the bleeding of small blood vessels, calledcapillaries, beneath the clear membrane called theconjunctiva, which covers the white of your eye (sclera) and the inside of your eyelids.
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Some of the possible causes of a subconjunctival hemorrhage include:
Babies and Blood in the Eye
It is not uncommon for subconjunctival hemorrhage to affect babies during childbirth. Pressure changes can occur as newborns pass through the birth canal, causing mild subconjunctival bleeding that typically clears up within two weeks.
Other Eye Bleeds
In addition to a subconjunctival hemorrhage, there are other types of bleeding that can happen in the eye:
Signs of a Blood Spot in the Eye
A subconjunctival hemorrhage often looks more serious than it is. Even so, it can be alarming because it tends to occur spontaneously, often for no apparent reason, and can rapidly spread in the early hours before blood clotting eventually stems the bleeding.
The main symptom of a subconjunctival hemorrhage is a bright red patch in the eye that may spread and then become greenish or yellow, much like a bruise. The spot may be as tiny as the head of a pin or cover much or all of the sclera.
A subconjunctival hemorrhage usually causes no pain but there can sometimes be a scratchy sensation or the feeling of grit under the eyelid. With extensive bleeding, there may also be a slight bulging of tissues, particularly around the iris (the colored part of the eye).
The symptoms will usually disappear within two weeks to three weeks without further incidence.
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The cause of subconjunctival hemorrhages remains unknown in about 40% of the cases. However, research suggests that certain conditions contribute to the risk of an eye bleed, including:
People aged 65 and older are at the greatest risk of having a subconjunctival hemorrhage, in part because they are more likely to have conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, all of which can weaken blood vessels in the eyes.
Diagnosing Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
An eye health provider (optometristor an ophthalmologist) can do aneye examto help determine the cause of blood in your eye. They will ask you about your medical history and any medications you take. They will also check your blood pressure.
Other tests may be performed to aid in the diagnosis:
Most blood spots in the eye get better on their own within two weeks, although severe ones may take up to three. A blood spot in your eye usually does not need medical treatment.
With that said, awarm compressplaced against your closed eye may speed healing.If you have eye irritation or scratchiness, over-the-counter (OTC)artificial tearscan help lubricate the eye and ease discomfort.
Medical TreatmentsMedical treatment may be needed to address the underlying cause of a subconjunctival hemorrhage, such as:Improved blood pressure control for people with hypertension, with exercise, weight loss, andantihypertensive medicationsImproved blood sugar control for people with diabetes, includingmedicationsand changes in diet and lifestyleAntihistaminesto treat a form of conjunctivitis calledallergic conjunctivitisSurgery to treat eye tumors and other eye disorders that contribute to subconjunctival bleeding
Medical Treatments
Medical treatment may be needed to address the underlying cause of a subconjunctival hemorrhage, such as:Improved blood pressure control for people with hypertension, with exercise, weight loss, andantihypertensive medicationsImproved blood sugar control for people with diabetes, includingmedicationsand changes in diet and lifestyleAntihistaminesto treat a form of conjunctivitis calledallergic conjunctivitisSurgery to treat eye tumors and other eye disorders that contribute to subconjunctival bleeding
Medical treatment may be needed to address the underlying cause of a subconjunctival hemorrhage, such as:
When Should I Worry About Blood in My Eye?
Despite its unnerving appearance, a subconjunctival hemorrhage looks far worse than it is, and the popping of the blood vessel in your eye poses little to no risk of vision loss or blindness.
With that said, blood in your eye may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition like diabetes or hypertension. See a healthcare provider if you experience:
It is not always possible to avoid a subconjunctival hemorrhage, but there are certain things you can do to help reduce the risk:
Summary
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is usually not serious, causing just a little blood-red discoloration that usually gets better on its own within two to three weeks. If it doesn’t, see your healthcare provider.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?Cedars-Sinai.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.Karademir Z, Semerci SY, Ozdemir FE, Bayramoglu SE.Subconjunctival hemorrhage in the newborn: experience of a tertiary care hospital.North Clin Istanb. 2023 Feb 13;10(1):74–78. doi:10.14744/nci.2021.19971American Academy of Ophthalmology.Is broken blood vessel in the eye harmless?.National Eye Institute.Diabetic retinopathy.Hong IH, Cho BJ, Choi SH.Association between subconjunctival hemorrhage and hemorrhagic disorders: a nationwide population-based study.Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 14;13(1):22237. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49428-z.American Academy of Ophthalmology.How can I make a broken blood vessel in my eye heal faster?.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Home remedies for bloodshot eyes.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Allergic conjunctivitis Information.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?Cedars-Sinai.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.Karademir Z, Semerci SY, Ozdemir FE, Bayramoglu SE.Subconjunctival hemorrhage in the newborn: experience of a tertiary care hospital.North Clin Istanb. 2023 Feb 13;10(1):74–78. doi:10.14744/nci.2021.19971American Academy of Ophthalmology.Is broken blood vessel in the eye harmless?.National Eye Institute.Diabetic retinopathy.Hong IH, Cho BJ, Choi SH.Association between subconjunctival hemorrhage and hemorrhagic disorders: a nationwide population-based study.Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 14;13(1):22237. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49428-z.American Academy of Ophthalmology.How can I make a broken blood vessel in my eye heal faster?.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Home remedies for bloodshot eyes.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Allergic conjunctivitis Information.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?Cedars-Sinai.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.Karademir Z, Semerci SY, Ozdemir FE, Bayramoglu SE.Subconjunctival hemorrhage in the newborn: experience of a tertiary care hospital.North Clin Istanb. 2023 Feb 13;10(1):74–78. doi:10.14744/nci.2021.19971American Academy of Ophthalmology.Is broken blood vessel in the eye harmless?.National Eye Institute.Diabetic retinopathy.Hong IH, Cho BJ, Choi SH.Association between subconjunctival hemorrhage and hemorrhagic disorders: a nationwide population-based study.Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 14;13(1):22237. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49428-z.American Academy of Ophthalmology.How can I make a broken blood vessel in my eye heal faster?.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Home remedies for bloodshot eyes.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Allergic conjunctivitis Information.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
Cedars-Sinai.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
Karademir Z, Semerci SY, Ozdemir FE, Bayramoglu SE.Subconjunctival hemorrhage in the newborn: experience of a tertiary care hospital.North Clin Istanb. 2023 Feb 13;10(1):74–78. doi:10.14744/nci.2021.19971
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Is broken blood vessel in the eye harmless?.
National Eye Institute.Diabetic retinopathy.
Hong IH, Cho BJ, Choi SH.Association between subconjunctival hemorrhage and hemorrhagic disorders: a nationwide population-based study.Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 14;13(1):22237. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49428-z.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.How can I make a broken blood vessel in my eye heal faster?.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Home remedies for bloodshot eyes.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Allergic conjunctivitis Information.
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