Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Most Common Cause of a Red Spot on the EyeCauses of Red Spots on The EyesWhen to See A Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Most Common Cause of a Red Spot on the Eye
Causes of Red Spots on The Eyes
When to See A Healthcare Provider
A red spot on the eye is a relatively common finding that’s not usually a cause for concern. In fact, asubconjunctival hemorrhage—the most common cause—typically doesn’t require any treatment.
This article will discuss some of the common causes of red spots on the eye and how they are treated. It also will help you to make an informed decision about when to see a healthcare provider.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
A red spot on the eye is often a small blood vessel that burst open.This is called asubconjunctival hemorrhage.
There are small blood vessels underneath theconjunctivain your eye. This is the clear coating that covers thesclera, the white part of the eye. When one of the vessels breaks, the blood is visible under the conjunctiva.
If a larger blood vessel breaks, it can look quite startling. The blood might even spread out over the entire white part of the eye.
It can be unnerving to see a large red spot in your eye. Most of the time, though, there is no pain or irritation. Most people won’t have light sensitivity, either. Light sensitivity is when bright light hurts your eyes.
The reasons for why blood vessels might pop in your eye can include physical stress but they’re not associated with emotional stress.
Among the causes are:
Anyone can develop a subconjunctival hemorrhage, butdiabetes, a disease that affects blood sugar andhypertension, or high blood pressure, are risk factors.
This condition doesn’t usually require treatment. The spot typically goes away on its own, usually within a week. If the hemorrhage is large, it may take a little longer. As it heals it may look similar to a yellowish bruise.
If the spot is large, your healthcare provider may recommend artificial tears or cold compresses. This can help you feel comfortable if there is swelling.
Sometimes red spots in the eye can have more serious causes. Even if you think your red spot is a subconjunctival hemorrhage, it is always best to see your healthcare provider, especially if it’s recurrent.
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is similar to a bruise on your skin. In your eye, however, the blood-red color is easier to see. This is because it is under the clear, transparent conjunctiva and in front of the white part of your eye.
What Causes Broken Blood Vessels in the Eye?
Other Causes of Red Spots On the Eyes
There are a few other conditions that youreye professionalmay consider if you have a red spot on your eye.
Episcleritis
Episcleritisis an inflammatory disorder of the episclera, the thin tissue between the clear conjunctiva and the white sclera. Episcleritis is acute, which means it comes on suddenly.
Episcleritis usually looks much worse than it is. Most cases of episcleritis go away on their own. About one-third of cases, though, are linked to inflammatory conditions that affect other parts of the body.
Pinguecula
You may be unaware that you have a pinguecula. You may notice it when it becomes inflamed. This can happen if you spend a lot of time in the sun and wind.
When a pinguecula is inflamed, it is called pingueculitis. It can become red and swollen and suddenly appear on your eye.
Most of the time, a pinguecula does not need to be treated.You can have it removed surgically, though, if it causes uncomfortable symptoms. Some people also have them removed for cosmetic reasons.
Can COVID-19 Cause Red Spots on the Eyes?Yes, it’s possible. COVID-19 infection can lead to serious eye conditions including bleeding from blood vessels in the eye.Those with an underlying condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure, are at greater risk.Pink eye(conjunctivitis) remains a common COVID symptom, especially in kids.
Can COVID-19 Cause Red Spots on the Eyes?
Yes, it’s possible. COVID-19 infection can lead to serious eye conditions including bleeding from blood vessels in the eye.Those with an underlying condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure, are at greater risk.Pink eye(conjunctivitis) remains a common COVID symptom, especially in kids.
Conjunctival Hemangioma
A conjunctivalhemangiomais a clump of twisted blood vessels that develops on the white of the eye. This condition is almost always congenital, which means you are born with it. It usually appears a few weeks after birth. Most of the time, it will disappear as a child grows.
In rare cases, conjunctival hemangiomas can appear in adults over the age of 60.Though they are usually harmless, they should be examined once a year.
Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder. People with sickle cell disease have chronic, long-lasting anemia, or a decrease in healthy red blood cells. The condition also causes severe bouts of pain.
Sickle cell patients will sometimes have comma-shaped red spots or lines on the white part of their eyes.This is because the sickle-shaped blood cells may cause blockages in small blood vessels.
What Causes a Red Spot on Your Eye After LASIK Surgery?Red spots afterLASIK surgeryare likely due to subconjunctival hemorrhage. Other eye procedures, such as laser treatment forcataracts, also can result in red spots on the eye for the same reason.
What Causes a Red Spot on Your Eye After LASIK Surgery?
Red spots afterLASIK surgeryare likely due to subconjunctival hemorrhage. Other eye procedures, such as laser treatment forcataracts, also can result in red spots on the eye for the same reason.
Benign and Cancerous Growths
Some growths on the eye can be serious, including:
If you notice any new growths on the surface of your eye, see your eye doctor as soon as possible.
Red Veins in Eyes: Causes and How To Treat Bloodshot Eyes
Do not ignore a red spot in your eye. If it lasts for longer than a few days, see your eye care professional. Acomprehensive eye examwill help your provider rule out serious conditions.
Summary
A red spot in the eye may have other causes, some of which are serious. Always see a healthcare provider if you have a new red spot in your eye that lasts longer than a few days.
13 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.Sahinoglu-Keskek N, Cevher S, Ergin A.Analysis of subconjunctival hemorrhage.Pak J Med Sci. 2013;29(1):132-4. doi:10.12669%2Fpjms.291.2802Azari AA, Barney NP.Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment.JAMA. 2013;310(16):1721-9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318Schonberg S, Stokkermans TJ.Episcleritis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2021.Kellogg Eye Center, Michigan Medicine.Pinguecula (yellow bump on eye).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pinguecula and pterygium (surfer’s eye) treatment.Sen S, Kannan NB, Kumar J, Rajan RP, Kumar K, Baliga G,et al.Retinal manifestations in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenetic implications: a systematic review.Int Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan;42(1):323-336. doi:10.1007/s10792-021-01996-7.Padmanaban S, Sumathi P, Kandoth P, Dharmendra RP.Congenital capillary hemangioma arising from palpebral conjunctiva of a neonate.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2017;65(11):1221-1223. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_487_17Nattis A, Perry HD, Rosenberg ED, Cocker R.Conjunctival capillary hemangioma.Cureus. 2017;9(11):e1892. doi:10.7759/cureus.1892Lim JI.Ophthalmic manifestations of sickle cell disease.Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2012;23(6):533-536. doi:10.1097/ICU.0b013e328358b921Lin HY, Chuang YJ, Lin PJ.Surgical outcomes with high and low pulse energy femtosecond laser systems for cataract surgery.Sci Rep. 2021 May 4;11(1):9525. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-89046-1.Oellers P, Karp CL, Shah RR, Winnick M, Matthews J, Dubovy S.Conjunctival keratoacanthoma.Br J Ophthalmol. 2014;98(2):275–276. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303999Yaghoob R, Ranjbari N, Feily A.Actinic granuloma.Dermatol Pract Concept. 2014;4(3):31-32. doi:10.5826/dpc.0403a04Tiutiuca C, Voicu D, Brujbu I, et al.Malignant tumors of the eyeball and its appendixes.Rev Chim. 2016;67(8):1641–1645.Additional ReadingTarlan B, Kiratli H.Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators.Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1163-1170. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S35062
13 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.Sahinoglu-Keskek N, Cevher S, Ergin A.Analysis of subconjunctival hemorrhage.Pak J Med Sci. 2013;29(1):132-4. doi:10.12669%2Fpjms.291.2802Azari AA, Barney NP.Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment.JAMA. 2013;310(16):1721-9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318Schonberg S, Stokkermans TJ.Episcleritis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2021.Kellogg Eye Center, Michigan Medicine.Pinguecula (yellow bump on eye).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pinguecula and pterygium (surfer’s eye) treatment.Sen S, Kannan NB, Kumar J, Rajan RP, Kumar K, Baliga G,et al.Retinal manifestations in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenetic implications: a systematic review.Int Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan;42(1):323-336. doi:10.1007/s10792-021-01996-7.Padmanaban S, Sumathi P, Kandoth P, Dharmendra RP.Congenital capillary hemangioma arising from palpebral conjunctiva of a neonate.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2017;65(11):1221-1223. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_487_17Nattis A, Perry HD, Rosenberg ED, Cocker R.Conjunctival capillary hemangioma.Cureus. 2017;9(11):e1892. doi:10.7759/cureus.1892Lim JI.Ophthalmic manifestations of sickle cell disease.Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2012;23(6):533-536. doi:10.1097/ICU.0b013e328358b921Lin HY, Chuang YJ, Lin PJ.Surgical outcomes with high and low pulse energy femtosecond laser systems for cataract surgery.Sci Rep. 2021 May 4;11(1):9525. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-89046-1.Oellers P, Karp CL, Shah RR, Winnick M, Matthews J, Dubovy S.Conjunctival keratoacanthoma.Br J Ophthalmol. 2014;98(2):275–276. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303999Yaghoob R, Ranjbari N, Feily A.Actinic granuloma.Dermatol Pract Concept. 2014;4(3):31-32. doi:10.5826/dpc.0403a04Tiutiuca C, Voicu D, Brujbu I, et al.Malignant tumors of the eyeball and its appendixes.Rev Chim. 2016;67(8):1641–1645.Additional ReadingTarlan B, Kiratli H.Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators.Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1163-1170. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S35062
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.
Sahinoglu-Keskek N, Cevher S, Ergin A.Analysis of subconjunctival hemorrhage.Pak J Med Sci. 2013;29(1):132-4. doi:10.12669%2Fpjms.291.2802Azari AA, Barney NP.Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment.JAMA. 2013;310(16):1721-9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318Schonberg S, Stokkermans TJ.Episcleritis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2021.Kellogg Eye Center, Michigan Medicine.Pinguecula (yellow bump on eye).American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pinguecula and pterygium (surfer’s eye) treatment.Sen S, Kannan NB, Kumar J, Rajan RP, Kumar K, Baliga G,et al.Retinal manifestations in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenetic implications: a systematic review.Int Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan;42(1):323-336. doi:10.1007/s10792-021-01996-7.Padmanaban S, Sumathi P, Kandoth P, Dharmendra RP.Congenital capillary hemangioma arising from palpebral conjunctiva of a neonate.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2017;65(11):1221-1223. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_487_17Nattis A, Perry HD, Rosenberg ED, Cocker R.Conjunctival capillary hemangioma.Cureus. 2017;9(11):e1892. doi:10.7759/cureus.1892Lim JI.Ophthalmic manifestations of sickle cell disease.Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2012;23(6):533-536. doi:10.1097/ICU.0b013e328358b921Lin HY, Chuang YJ, Lin PJ.Surgical outcomes with high and low pulse energy femtosecond laser systems for cataract surgery.Sci Rep. 2021 May 4;11(1):9525. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-89046-1.Oellers P, Karp CL, Shah RR, Winnick M, Matthews J, Dubovy S.Conjunctival keratoacanthoma.Br J Ophthalmol. 2014;98(2):275–276. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303999Yaghoob R, Ranjbari N, Feily A.Actinic granuloma.Dermatol Pract Concept. 2014;4(3):31-32. doi:10.5826/dpc.0403a04Tiutiuca C, Voicu D, Brujbu I, et al.Malignant tumors of the eyeball and its appendixes.Rev Chim. 2016;67(8):1641–1645.
Sahinoglu-Keskek N, Cevher S, Ergin A.Analysis of subconjunctival hemorrhage.Pak J Med Sci. 2013;29(1):132-4. doi:10.12669%2Fpjms.291.2802
Azari AA, Barney NP.Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment.JAMA. 2013;310(16):1721-9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318
Schonberg S, Stokkermans TJ.Episcleritis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2021.
Kellogg Eye Center, Michigan Medicine.Pinguecula (yellow bump on eye).
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pinguecula and pterygium (surfer’s eye) treatment.
Sen S, Kannan NB, Kumar J, Rajan RP, Kumar K, Baliga G,et al.Retinal manifestations in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenetic implications: a systematic review.Int Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan;42(1):323-336. doi:10.1007/s10792-021-01996-7.
Padmanaban S, Sumathi P, Kandoth P, Dharmendra RP.Congenital capillary hemangioma arising from palpebral conjunctiva of a neonate.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2017;65(11):1221-1223. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_487_17
Nattis A, Perry HD, Rosenberg ED, Cocker R.Conjunctival capillary hemangioma.Cureus. 2017;9(11):e1892. doi:10.7759/cureus.1892
Lim JI.Ophthalmic manifestations of sickle cell disease.Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2012;23(6):533-536. doi:10.1097/ICU.0b013e328358b921
Lin HY, Chuang YJ, Lin PJ.Surgical outcomes with high and low pulse energy femtosecond laser systems for cataract surgery.Sci Rep. 2021 May 4;11(1):9525. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-89046-1.
Oellers P, Karp CL, Shah RR, Winnick M, Matthews J, Dubovy S.Conjunctival keratoacanthoma.Br J Ophthalmol. 2014;98(2):275–276. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303999
Yaghoob R, Ranjbari N, Feily A.Actinic granuloma.Dermatol Pract Concept. 2014;4(3):31-32. doi:10.5826/dpc.0403a04
Tiutiuca C, Voicu D, Brujbu I, et al.Malignant tumors of the eyeball and its appendixes.Rev Chim. 2016;67(8):1641–1645.
Tarlan B, Kiratli H.Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators.Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1163-1170. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S35062
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