Have you woken up in the morning with a patch of red blood on the white part of your eye? If you don't feel any pain, it's probably a subconjunctival hemorrhage. While this may seem alarming, it's almost always benign. Blood appears because of minor trauma to the surface of the eye. Fortunately, the human body is well-equipped to deal with such situations. Learn all there is to know about subconjunctival hemorrhage, its causes and symptoms.
For personalized advice and further understanding, it's advisable to consult with an eye care professional if you experience persistent symptoms or have concerns about your eye health.
What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a discharge of blood into the conjunctiva due to a ruptured blood vessel. The blood that accumulates comes from one or more blood vessels on the eye's surface (not inside). The conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers the eyes, then becomes partially or entirely red.
Rest assured that the area of blood flow does not include the pupil, iris or interior of the eye. Consequently, the quality of your vision will not be affected by subconjunctival hemorrhage. In most cases, subconjunctival hemorrhages occur suddenly and are not painful. However, you may feel a sensation of a foreign body in the affected eye.
For all these reasons, subconjunctival hemorrhage is considered benign. However, it should not be confused with other conditions involving red eye, such as keratitis, uveitis or scleritis.
What causes a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
The cause remains unknown in most cases, as subconjunctival hemorrhage can occur spontaneously. It may also be caused by minor trauma to the eye, such as pushing, lifting, bending over, sneezing or vomiting. A subconjunctival hemorrhage can also occur after a coughing fit or rubbing the eyes.
There are two other fairly common causes.
A subconjunctival hemorrhage caused by hypertension
If you are prone to high blood pressure, it's best to consult your doctor if you have blood on the white part of your eye.
A subconjunctival hemorrhage following eye surgery
Even minimal trauma to the surface of the eye can cause a subconjunctival hemorrhage. It is not uncommon for a subconjunctival hemorrhage to occur immediately after surgery or shortly afterwards.
Subconjunctival hemorrhages and underlying pathologies
Repeated episodes of subconjunctival hemorrhages may indicate an underlying pathology. A medical check-up could help to identify any possible causes:
- Coagulation disorders
- Hypertension problems
- Hemostasis disorders (hemophilia)
What are the symptoms of a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
This eye condition develops in the same way as a bruise on the skin. The blood spot may gradually spread over several hours or days. As it disappears, it changes color, from bright red to dark red and sometimes yellow. The blood spot is always located on the white of the eye. It can be localized or spread, masking the white part entirely. Note that the size of the spot is by no means a criterion of severity. And as we saw earlier, subconjunctival hemorrhages are not painful, although discomfort may be experienced.
How long do subconjunctival hemorrhages last?
It usually takes one to three weeks for the spot to disappear completely. During this time, it may change color and shape in much the same way as a bruise would on the skin.
What is the treatment for subconjunctival hemorrhage?
Because it's a benign eye problem that resolves spontaneously, no treatment is useful or necessary. And to date, no eye drop treatment has proven effective in curing a subconjunctival hemorrhage more quickly. However, non-prescription lubricating eye drops can be used to reduce discomfort. We also recommend not rubbing your eye to avoid aggravating the situation or creating a new hemorrhage.
And if the hemorrhage occurs due to major eye trauma, such as an injury or a blow to the eye, it's important to book an eye exam. An optometrist will check other structures in the eye for damage.
