Seeing a bright red patch in the white part of your eye can be frightening. Those startling red spots are are known as subconjunctival hemorrhages. They happen when tiny blood vessels in the eyes just under the clear membrane covering the sclera, or the white part of the eye, burst.
Subconjunctival hemorrhages definitely look scary, but they usually look worse than they actually are. These broken vessels are typically harmless. If you have one, though, you’re probably wondering what causes them and what might be involved in fixing a broken blood vessel in the eye.
Common Causes of Broken Blood Vessels in the Eyes
Broken blood vessels in the eyes can happen for a few reasons. Normal activities that place pressure on the eyes can cause vessels to burst. Those include coughing, sneezing, vomiting, heavy lifting, and even straining during bowel movements. In some cases, rubbing your eyes particularly hard may cause blood vessels to rupture.
Some medical conditions can make people more likely to develop broken blood vessels in their eyes. High blood pressure, diabetes, and glaucoma are a couple of the most common. People with bleeding disorders and who take blood thinners like aspirin or warfarin are at a higher risk of developing subconjunctival hemorrhages as well.
Additionally, injuries can cause broken blood vessels in the eyes. Getting poked in the eye, being hit by a flying object, and getting foreign material in the eyes fall into this category. In some cases, irritation from contact lenses can lead to minor subconjunctival hemorrhages.
What Can (and Can’t) Be Done to Fix Broken Blood Vessels in the Eyes
Subconjunctival hemorrhages usually heal on their own within a couple of weeks. They’re a bit like bruises. The body gradually absorbs the blood that leaked out of the blood vessels, and the broken vessels naturally repair themselves. There’s no way to instantly fix a broken blood vessel in the eye, though.
In the meantime, there are things you can do to promote healing. One of the easiest is using eye drops. They help soothe irritation and keep the eye moist. It’s important to avoid rubbing your eyes as much as possible while the vessel is healing as well. Rubbing can worsen the bleeding and even cause other vessels to rupture. If you need to rub your eye, consider using eye drops or cool compresses instead.
When to See a Doctor for a Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Most of the time, broken blood vessels in the eyes aren’t dangerous. There are times when you may need to see a doctor for them, though. If the redness lasts longer than two weeks, is accompanied by swelling, or happened after an eye injury, you shouldn’t ignore the problem. It’s also essential to see a doctor if the broken vessel comes with eye pain, sensitivity to light, or changes in your vision. If you experience subconjunctival hemorrhages frequently, you may want to talk to your doctor about them and find out if an underlying medical condition is responsible.
Taking Care of Broken Blood Vessels in Your Eyes
Broken blood vessels in the eyes look bad, but they’re usually nothing to worry about. While there’s no quick fix for them, they usually heal on their own over time. If you experience any of the issues mentioned above along with a subconjunctival hemorrhage, though, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
