Subconjunctival haemorrhage
Symptoms
- Red spot on the white part of the eye
- Feeling like sand in your eyes
Diagnostics
Determined by a thorough eye examination
Treatment
- Moisturising eye drops
- Wearing safety glasses
What is subconjunctival haemorrhage?
More commonly known as a ruptured blood vessel in the eye, subconjunctival haemorrhage occurs when one of the small blood vessels located just under the thin protective layer (conjunctiva) of the eye ruptures, creating a red patch of spilled blood on the white part of the eye (sclera). Although it sounds threatening, this condition, where a blood vessel is missing from the surface of the eye, does not cause pain and is usually not dangerous.
What are the symptoms of subconjunctival haemorrhage?
The most obvious symptom is a red spot on the white part of the eye. It can look frightening, and may be bigger if you are taking medicines such as aspirin or warfarin, which affect blood clotting, but it is not worth worrying about.
Apart from this, you will not experience any other symptoms of subconjunctival haemorrhage. You will not feel any pain and your vision will not be affected. Some people may have a feeling of fullness in the eye or a feeling as if sand has been put in the eye.
What causes subconjunctival haemorrhage?
The rupture of a blood vessel in the eye can occur spontaneously and it is not always possible to determine the exact cause, but some causes of subconjunctival haemorrhage may be:
- Tension, coughing or sneezing;
- Injury to the eye;
- Eye surgery;
- High blood pressure.
How is the diagnosis of subconjunctival haemorrhage made?
In cases where the subconjunctival haemorrhage has occurred spontaneously, the diagnosis is relatively straightforward and only requires an experienced doctor. However, if you have had any eye surgery, eye or head trauma, or if you suspect that something may have entered the eye, then a more detailed examination is needed.
Most cases of subconjunctival haemorrhage do not require any treatment as they usually resolve spontaneously after a couple of weeks. If you feel irritation or a sensation as if your eyes are filled with sand, you can use moisturising eye drops.
If the broken blood vessel is due to an eye injury, you should see your eye specialist to make sure there are no more serious injuries to the eye.
If subconjunctival haemorrhage keeps recurring, you should visit your GP to identify possible causes of this condition, which may include high blood pressure or poor blood clotting.
What help is available?
The blood vessels in the eye can rupture spontaneously for natural reasons beyond your control, so it is not always possible to prevent the rupture of blood vessels in the eye.
The best thing you can do is to ensure good eye health:
- Take proper care of your contact lenses;
- Remove foreign bodies from the eye with eye drops;
- Wear protective goggles during sports;
- Have your eyes checked regularly and contact your eye specialist immediately if you have any vision problems.
Take care of your eyes!
Visit your nearest Optikos pasaulio showroom or register for an ophthalmologist consultation at Familia Clinica in Vilnius (Nemenčinės pl. 4D) and get a 15% discount with your Optikos pasaulio loyalty card.
Frequently asked questions
Kiek ilgai akyje išlieka trūkusi kraujagyslė?
Panašiai kaip mėlynė ant odos, subkonjunktyvinis kraujavimas pamažu šviesės ir išnyks po poros savaičių. Tai gali trukti nuo vienos savaitės iki trijų savaičių.
Ar trūkus kraujagyslei skauda akį?
Tūkus akies kraujagyslei nejausite jokio skausmo ir tai neturės jokios įtakos Jūsų regėjimui.
Ar kreiptis į gydytoją esant sukonjunktyviniam kraujavimui?
Jei subkonjunktyvinis kraujavimas vis kartojasi, turėtumėte apsilankyti pas savo gydytoją, kad būtų nustatytos galimos šios būklės priežastys, tarp kurių gali būti aukštas kraujospūdis ar prastas kraujo krešėjimas
