A red spot in your eye might make you feel like a villain in a horror movie, but it is typically not a reason for alarm. It is likely a subconjunctival hemorrhage. A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a condition in which small, delicate blood vessels break under the clear conjunctival tissue which covers the white of the eye called the sclera.
Blood gets trapped under the conjunctival membranes, giving the eye a bright, blood red appearance. Baptist Eye Surgeons is an ophthalmological practice in Knoxville, TN, and Morristown, TN, that specializes in routine eye conditions for conditions such as broken blood vessels, as well as treatment of eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
To meet our doctors and learn more about our specialities, visit our website or give us a call at for more information, or conveniently schedule an appointment online. Your email address will not be published. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. While the results of a pink eye infection also known as conjunctivitis may appear similar to a subconjunctival hemorrhage, they are two very different conditions.
You'll usually be able to tell the difference between pink eye and a burst blood vessel by the presence or absence of other symptoms.
With the exception of floaters and mild sensitivity, there usually are no other symptoms that accompany a burst blood vessel. If you have pink eye, though, you'll notice several other unpleasant symptoms, including the following:. If these symptoms accompany the red spot in your eye, you may actually be suffering from pink eye.
If you've ruled out pinkeye and are fairly certain you're dealing with a burst blood vessel, you're now probably wondering what caused this issue to occur. A subconjunctival hemorrhage can also result from an eye injury.
If you've been roughly rubbing your eyes, or if a foreign object hit your eye at some point, that may be the cause of your burst blood vessel. Some people also suffer from medical conditions that increase their chances of experiencing a burst blood vessel. If you have one of the following conditions, your risk of bursting a blood vessel increases:.
People who are on blood-thinning medications like warfarin and aspirin are also more prone to burst blood vessels. Generally speaking, there's not a lot that you can do to treat a burst blood vessel. Most of the time, the best thing to do is to just wait and let it heal while avoiding further irritating the area. The broken blood vessel will usually naturally heal itself within one or two weeks. The blood will be reabsorbed and the appearance of your eye will return to normal.
Since the conjunctiva is thin, oxygen gets to this blood, so it remains quite red until absorbed. In truth, there is nothing you can do to speed up the absorption which can take five to 10 days, although some think that the application of warm soaks can help this process. Ask a New Question. Not every question will receive a direct response from an ophthalmologist. However, we will follow up with suggested ways to find appropriate information related to your question. Medical disclaimer. By submitting your question, you agree to be answered by email.
Your email address will only be used to answer your question unless you are an Academy member or are subscribed to Academy newsletters.
0コメント