Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTreatmentHealingSeeking Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Treatment
Healing
Seeking Care
A broken blood vessel in the eye—calledsubconjunctival hemorrhage—causes ared spoton the white part of your eye. It is a common problem that usually heals on its own in several days or weeks. Most of the time, you don’t need medical attention for broken blood vessels in the eye unless they occur frequently.
This article covers potential causes for abroken blood vesselin the eye, how long it takes to heal, and when to contact a healthcare provider.
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Causes of a Popped Blood Vessel in the Eye
There are many potential causes of a broken blood vessel in the eye. It can result from irritation, like that from dirty contact lenses, injury, such as eye orhead trauma, illness, or certain health conditions.If you notice a broken blood vessel in your eye and are unsure of the cause, consider the following possibilities.
Irritation
Irritation due to contact lenses is a common cause of broken blood vessels in the eye, especially among younger people. The following are some common causes of eye irritation:
Injury
An injury directly to the eye or a trauma to the head can result in a broken blood vessel. If you experience a head injury that results in broken bones, it’s possible to develop a broken blood vessel in your eye. However, the symptoms may appear 12 to 24 hours following the injury. Common causes of injury include the following:
Illness
Illnesses, such as a viral infection, can cause symptoms that could lead to a broken blood vessel in the eye, including:
Health Conditions
Certain health conditions are associated with an increased risk of broken blood vessels in the eye. These include:
Other Causes
Sometimes, you can break a blood vessel in your eye through standard tasks, like bending forward or straining on the toilet, as follows:
What to Do If You Have a Popped Blood Vessel in the Eye
A popped blood vessel in the eye generally requires no treatment and should go away on its own. If it’s causing irritation, you can use artificial tears for relief.
How to Treat a Broken Blood Vessel in the Eye
How Long Does It Take a Burst Blood Vessel in the Eye to Go Away?
It usually takes days to weeks for a burst blood vessel in the eye to go away without treatment.As the eye improves, the white part of the eye may start to look yellow.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Let a healthcare provider know if you frequently get a burst blood vessel in the eye that doesn’t improve with time or if you are unsure of the cause. A healthcare provider will check your blood pressure and perform an eye exam. They may consider additional testing if an underlying medical cause is suspected, which is more common among older adults.
Summary
A broken blood vessel in the eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage) has many potential causes, such as rubbing your eyes too hard, intense coughing or sneezing, eyestrain, eye surgery, or a viral infection. A broken blood vessel in the eye usually goes away on its own. If it occurs frequently, without an apparent cause, or you experience them often, see a healthcare provider.
7 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.Subconjunctival hemorrhage causes.Tarlan B, Kiratli H.Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators.Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1163-70. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S35062.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivochalasis. February 19, 2024.Mount Sinai.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.MedlinePlus.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.American Optometric Association.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
7 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.Subconjunctival hemorrhage causes.Tarlan B, Kiratli H.Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators.Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1163-70. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S35062.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivochalasis. February 19, 2024.Mount Sinai.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.MedlinePlus.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.American Optometric Association.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
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.Subconjunctival hemorrhage causes.Tarlan B, Kiratli H.Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators.Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1163-70. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S35062.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivochalasis. February 19, 2024.Mount Sinai.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.MedlinePlus.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.American Optometric Association.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Subconjunctival hemorrhage causes.
Tarlan B, Kiratli H.Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators.Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1163-70. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S35062.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivochalasis. February 19, 2024.
Mount Sinai.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
MedlinePlus.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
American Optometric Association.Subconjunctival hemorrhage.
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