Understanding Broken Blood Vessels in the Eyes
Few sensations grab your attention like noticing blood in your eye. The shocking red hue standing out against the white sclera often sparks panic. However, in most cases, a broken blood vessel in the eye appears far worse than it actually is.
What Causes Blood Vessels to Break in the Eyes?
Ocular broken blood vessels, also called subconjunctival hemorrhages, happen when tiny capillaries rupture and leak near the surface. The potential triggers include:
- Injury or trauma - blows, foreign objects, vigorous eye rubbing
- Medical conditions - high blood pressure, diabetes, blood disorders
- Medications - blood thinners, NSAIDs, corticosteroids
- Straining - vomiting, coughing, child birth, constipation
- Environmental factors - ultraviolet rays, chemical exposure, pollution, altitude changes
Who Gets Broken Blood Vessels in the Eyes Most Often?
While anyone can get a subconjunctival hemorrhage, particular groups face increased risk factors:
- Newborns: Common with childbirth trauma and crying
- Contact sports athletes: Frequent blows to the eyes
- Those over 60 years old: Increased frequency alongside aging vessels
- People with vascular conditions: High blood pressure, diabetes, aneurysms
- Those on blood thinners: Warfarin, aspirin, heparin
- People with bleeding disorders: Hemophilia Von Willebrand disease
What Do Broken Blood Vessels in the Eye Look Like?
When a tiny ocular blood vessel ruptures, it bleeds under the clear surface membrane called the conjunctiva. This causes a vivid red patch or spot on the white area surrounding the colored iris.
Size and Location
A subconjunctival hemorrhage can appear in either eye or both simultaneously. The red discoloration often concentrates near the edge of the iris, extending outward in round or oval shapes.
In minor cases, the bleeding stays localized in one section spanning 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch. More extensive ruptures cause blood to spread further covering up to half the eye's visible surface.
Appearance Changes Over Time
At first, the bloody patch maintains defined edges and bright saturation. As reabsorption starts, the borders blur into surrounding tissue while the hue lightens to dark pink then orange. Eventually the eye reclaims its normal white appearance within 1-4 weeks.
Contrast Against Eye Color
Eye color impacts the perceived effect when vessels break. Light colored irises like blue and green provide high contrast against the scarlet bleed. Dark brown irises muffle the intensity by absorbing more red wavelength light reflections.
Symptoms and Sensations Felt When Eye Vessels Burst
Common Symptoms
Around 60% of people with broken blood vessels in the eyes experience associated symptom flare ups. These include:
- Eye redness - ranging from light pink to dark crimson
- Pain - mild to moderate eye soreness
- Blurry vision - temporary difficulty focusing
- Tearing, itching, burning sensation
- Feeling something is stuck in your eye
When There Are No Symptoms
In other instances, subconjunctival eye bleeding causes zero discomfort or perceptual shifts. Without glancing in a mirror, you remain oblivious to the bleeding until someone asks about your eye.
The absence of related symptoms favors a benign cause like straining rather than trauma or vessel disorders requiring prompt medical review.
Seeing Floaters or Light Flashes
While harmless floaters are commonplace with age, noticing gradual increases in spots, webs or light flashes alongside a bloody eye warrants urgent care to rule out detached retinas.
Is Blood in the Eye Serious? When to Seek Medical Care
Finding blood pooling on the surface of your eye understandably incites worry about permanent damage or vision loss. However, solitary subconjunctival hemorrhages rarely progress beyond cosmetic concerns.
Call Your Doctor if You Have:
- Sudden onset light flashes or increased floaters
- Double vision, loss of vision
- Severe pain, persistent headaches
- Recurrent bleeding episodes
These accompany more serious causes like diabetic retinopathy, retinal bleeding, eye injuries and aneurysms needing intervention to prevent blindness.
Seek Immediate Medical Care if Experiencing:
- Blood accumulation inside the colored iris
- New rash of red dots on eyelid or eye surface
- Swelling or protrusion of the eye
- Fresh blood oozing from the eye
Hyphemas with iris bleeding, petechial rashes and actual globe ruptures classify as medical emergencies, especially if pain exists or vision rapidly declines.
Treatment and Home Care for Broken Blood Vessels in Eyes
Eye doctors seldom need to intervene with solitary subconjunctival hemorrhages. The vast majority reabsorb naturally over 2-4 weeks. Managing discomfort and preventing further bleeding fits standard treatment.
Home Care Recovery Tips
To encourage healing of a broken blood vessel in the eye, try these at-home remedies:
- Apply cold compress - Ice wrapped in cloth for 10 minutes reduces swelling
- Use lubricating drops - Soothes eye dryness and irritation
- Refrain from touching or rubbing eyes
- Wear sunglasses - Protects from irritants like dust, wind, sunlight
- Avoid straining - Prevents aggravating vascular pressure
- Take OTC pain relievers as needed
When to Follow Up With Your Eye Doctor
Schedule an appointment to investigate root causes if you experience:
- Recurrence greater than twice yearly
- Bleeding alongside other vision changes
- Known history of diabetes, hypertension or bleeding disorders
Testing for underlying conditions informs proactive treatment to reduce future eye vessel rupture episodes and permanent ocular damage risk.
Can Broken Blood Vessels in the Eye be Prevented?
While you cannot control all variables causing subconjunctival hemorrhages, prudent lifestyle habits bolster eye health to minimize unnecessary bleeding.
Strategies to Reduce Risks
Try integrating more eye-healthy practices into your routine:
- Wear protective eyewear with sports like racquetball, boxing, lacrosse
- Install a humidifier to add moisture during dry seasons
- Limit screen time and take regular breaks
- Maintain blood pressure and blood sugar within ideal ranges
- Avoid rubbing eyes forcefully when rinsing out contacts or removing makeup
- Blink more consciously to hydrate eyes and equalize pressure
While no guarantees exist against spontaneous issues later in life, diligent prevention keeps eyes resilient against common mechanical and environmental threats.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
Add Comment