A subconjunctival hemmorrhage is a broken blood vessel in the eye. It occurs when a small blood vessel breaks just below the conjunctiva or clear surface of the eye. The presence of the condition may not be apparent until you look in the mirror and find the white part of your eye has turned red.
Because the conjunctiva is unable to absorb blood quickly, it is trapped below the eye’s surface. Although it may look alarming, it is usually a relatively harmless condition that goes away within 10 to 14 days.
Injury is not necessarily the cause of subconjunctival hemmorrhage and it may happen as a result of sneezing or coughing.
What are the Symptoms?
The obvious symptom is redness on the white part of the eye. As a rule, vision should not be impaired and there should be no discharge or pain. You may experience a gritty feeling on the surface of the eye.
What causes a Subconjunctival Hemmorrhage?
Usually the causes are unknown but sneezing, vomiting, heavy lifting and violent coughing may trigger a subconjunctival hemmorrhage.
Are there Risk Factors?
People suffering from diabetes or high blood pressure usually are at greater risk. Newborn babies can be susceptible because of pressure during delivery.
Blood-thinning medications, like warfarin and aspirin, may increase the risk of subconjunctival hemmorrhage.
Treatment
Subconjunctival hemmorrhages usually require little treatment and health complications are rare.
The gritty feeling in the eye can be soothed with artificial tear eye drops and the condition should disappear within 10 to 14 days.
It is always a good idea to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for a correct diagnosis and if the condition is one which frequently recurs.
