Subconjunctival Hemorrhage facts
What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
The conjunctiva is a clear tissue that covers the white of the eye (the sclera) and lines the inside of both eyelids. A subconjunctival hemorrhage is blood that is located between the conjunctiva and the underlying sclera.
What causes a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
The conjunctiva contains nerves and many small blood vessels. These blood vessels are usually barely visible but become larger and more visible if the eye is inflamed. These blood vessels are somewhat fragile and their walls may break easily, resulting in a subconjunctival hemorrhage (bleeding under the conjunctiva). A subconjunctival hemorrhage appears as a bright red or dark red patch on the sclera. Most subconjunctival hemorrhages are spontaneous without an obvious cause for the bleeding from normal conjunctival blood vessels. Since most subconjunctival hemorrhages are painless, a person may discover a subconjunctival hemorrhage only by looking in the mirror. Many spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhages are first noticed by another person seeing a red spot on the white of your eye. Rarely there may be an abnormally large or angulated blood vessel as the source of the hemorrhage.
The following can occasionally result in a spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhage:
Subconjunctival hemorrhage can also be non-spontaneous and result from a severe eye infection, trauma to the head or eye or after eye or eyelid surgery.
What are symptoms and signs of a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
Most of the time, no symptoms are associated with a subconjunctival hemorrhage other than seeing blood over the white part of the eye.
Call your ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery) if the subconjunctival hemorrhage does not get better within two weeks or if it has happened multiple times.
Also, call your ophthalmologist if you have a hemorrhage in both eyes at the same time or if the subconjunctival hemorrhage coincides with a new onset of easy bruising or bleeding gums.
Go to your ophthalmologist immediately if the subconjunctival hemorrhage is associated with
How is a subconjunctival hemorrhage diagnosed?
Your ophthalmologist will take a medical, eye, and medication history to determine what events were leading up to the subconjunctival hemorrhage and will also perform an examination. Your blood pressure may also be checked.
If trauma was the cause, a more thorough examination will usually be performed. Once the diagnosis of subconjunctival hemorrhage is made, your ophthalmologist might be able to tell you the cause and if there is any sign of damage to the eye.
In newborn infants, subconjunctival hemorrhage can occasionally be found as a result of the birth process. Shaken baby syndrome should be considered in young children with subconjunctival hemorrhages in both eyes.
What is the treatment for a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
Usually, no treatment is needed. Over-the-counter artificial tears can be applied to the eye if mild irritation is present. The eye does not require a patch.
The use of aspirin or other medication that inhibits clotting should be avoided. If you are taking aspirin or an anticoagulant for a medical condition, check with your physician to determine whether the medication should be stopped or continued. Do not stop anti-coagulation medicines without physician consultation. These medications are frequently life savers, and they rarely need to be discontinued for a subconjunctival hemmorhage.
If the subconjunctival hemorrhage is trauma-related, your ophthalmologist will determine what other treatment is necessary to promote healing of the injury.
If the subconjunctival hemorrhage is a result of an external infection, your ophthalmologist may prescribe antibiotic drops or an ointment.
This condition clears by itself within one to two weeks. Recovery is usually complete, without any long-term problems, similar to a mild bruise under the skin. Like a bruise, a subconjunctival hemorrhage changes colors (often red to orange to yellow) as it heals. A skin bruise changes to various shades of green, black, and blue as it heals, because the blood is being seen through skin. Because the conjunctiva is transparent, a subconjunctival hemorrhage never has these color characteristics.
What causes a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
The conjunctiva contains nerves and many small blood vessels. These blood vessels are usually barely visible but become larger and more visible if the eye is inflamed. These blood vessels are somewhat fragile and their walls may break easily, resulting in a subconjunctival hemorrhage (bleeding under the conjunctiva). A subconjunctival hemorrhage appears as a bright red or dark red patch on the sclera. Most subconjunctival hemorrhages are spontaneous without an obvious cause for the bleeding from normal conjunctival blood vessels. Since most subconjunctival hemorrhages are painless, a person may discover a subconjunctival hemorrhage only by looking in the mirror. Many spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhages are first noticed by another person seeing a red spot on the white of your eye. Rarely there may be an abnormally large or angulated blood vessel as the source of the hemorrhage.
The following can occasionally result in a spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhage:
Subconjunctival hemorrhage can also be non-spontaneous and result from a severe eye infection, trauma to the head or eye or after eye or eyelid surgery.
What are symptoms and signs of a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
Most of the time, no symptoms are associated with a subconjunctival hemorrhage other than seeing blood over the white part of the eye.
Call your ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery) if the subconjunctival hemorrhage does not get better within two weeks or if it has happened multiple times.
Also, call your ophthalmologist if you have a hemorrhage in both eyes at the same time or if the subconjunctival hemorrhage coincides with a new onset of easy bruising or bleeding gums.
Go to your ophthalmologist immediately if the subconjunctival hemorrhage is associated with
How is a subconjunctival hemorrhage diagnosed?
Your ophthalmologist will take a medical, eye, and medication history to determine what events were leading up to the subconjunctival hemorrhage and will also perform an examination. Your blood pressure may also be checked.
If trauma was the cause, a more thorough examination will usually be performed. Once the diagnosis of subconjunctival hemorrhage is made, your ophthalmologist might be able to tell you the cause and if there is any sign of damage to the eye.
In newborn infants, subconjunctival hemorrhage can occasionally be found as a result of the birth process. Shaken baby syndrome should be considered in young children with subconjunctival hemorrhages in both eyes.
What is the treatment for a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
Usually, no treatment is needed. Over-the-counter artificial tears can be applied to the eye if mild irritation is present. The eye does not require a patch.
The use of aspirin or other medication that inhibits clotting should be avoided. If you are taking aspirin or an anticoagulant for a medical condition, check with your physician to determine whether the medication should be stopped or continued. Do not stop anti-coagulation medicines without physician consultation. These medications are frequently life savers, and they rarely need to be discontinued for a subconjunctival hemmorhage.
If the subconjunctival hemorrhage is trauma-related, your ophthalmologist will determine what other treatment is necessary to promote healing of the injury.
If the subconjunctival hemorrhage is a result of an external infection, your ophthalmologist may prescribe antibiotic drops or an ointment.
This condition clears by itself within one to two weeks. Recovery is usually complete, without any long-term problems, similar to a mild bruise under the skin. Like a bruise, a subconjunctival hemorrhage changes colors (often red to orange to yellow) as it heals. A skin bruise changes to various shades of green, black, and blue as it heals, because the blood is being seen through skin. Because the conjunctiva is transparent, a subconjunctival hemorrhage never has these color characteristics.
Source: http://www.rxlist.com
The use of aspirin or other medication that inhibits clotting should be avoided. If you are taking aspirin or an anticoagulant for a medical condition, check with your physician to determine whether the medication should be stopped or continued. Do not stop anti-coagulation medicines without physician consultation. These medications are frequently life savers, and they rarely need to be discontinued for a subconjunctival hemmorhage.
If the subconjunctival hemorrhage is trauma-related, your ophthalmologist will determine what other treatment is necessary to promote healing of the injury.
If the subconjunctival hemorrhage is a result of an external infection, your ophthalmologist may prescribe antibiotic drops or an ointment.
This condition clears by itself within one to two weeks. Recovery is usually complete, without any long-term problems, similar to a mild bruise under the skin. Like a bruise, a subconjunctival hemorrhage changes colors (often red to orange to yellow) as it heals. A skin bruise changes to various shades of green, black, and blue as it heals, because the blood is being seen through skin. Because the conjunctiva is transparent, a subconjunctival hemorrhage never has these color characteristics.
Source: http://www.rxlist.com
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