Blood Vessels Broken in Eyes
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Try one of these related symptoms.
A red spot on my eye
Subconjunctival hemorrhage
Bleeding from right eye
Bleeding from left eye
About the Symptom
A broken blood vessel can cause a red patches or spots in your eye. It may appear frightening, but it is usually harmless. There are many microscopic blood vessels in your conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers your eye which can rupture. If it causes discomfort or worsens, you should consult a doctor.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Red patches in eyes
Possible Causes
Generally, Blood vessels broken in eyes can be related to:
- Intraocular Foreign Body
Intraocular foreign bodies are unintentional projectiles that are retained in the eye and require urgent diagnosis. If left unattended, they may lead to vision loss and blindness.
- Corneal Injury
Corneal damage is an injury to the cornea, which is the transparent tissue covering the front of the eye.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have red patches or bleeding spots in the white of your eyes?
- When did you first notice the redness of the whites of your eyes?
- How often have you experienced redness of the whites of your eyes?
- How is the redness of the whites of your eyes now?
- Are the whites of your eyes red?
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Masashi Mimura, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Mimura Graduated from the Osaka Medical College and obtained his ophthalmologist certification in 2007. He opened an outpatient clinic for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at Osaka Kaijo Hospital. Subsequently, he was appointed as the assistant professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, in 2014. He then served an international fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California State University, San Diego. Since then, he has been appointed as Lecturer in the Departments of Ophthalmology at Osaka Medical College and Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital. Dr. Mimura is currently the Director of Oculofacial Clinic Osaka, where he specializes in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Bleeding from the white part of the eye (the sclera)
- Blood in the white part of the eye
- Red spots in the white of the eye
- Blood in the white of the eye
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FAQs
Q.
Blood in Your Eye? Subconjunctival Hemorrhage: Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Blood in the eye is most often a harmless subconjunctival hemorrhage, a surface bleed that does not affect vision and usually clears within 1 to 2 weeks. Medically approved next steps include monitoring symptoms, using preservative free artificial tears for irritation, avoiding eye rubbing, checking blood pressure, and not stopping blood thinners without talking to your doctor; seek urgent care for pain, vision changes, recent trauma, recurrent or widespread bleeding, or if it is not improving after about two weeks. There are several important details and exceptions that could change your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Subconjunctival Hemorrhage. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Aug 14. PMID: 35927341.
* Jain M, Gupta N. Subconjunctival hemorrhage: Etiology, diagnosis, and management. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022 Oct;70(10):3684-3687. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_166_22. PMID: 36335198; PMCID: PMC9715103.
* Hussain AM, Abad-Kruse E, Hsiang W, Bhasin A. Spontaneous subconjunctival haemorrhage: a comprehensive narrative review. Br J Ophthalmol. 2021 Dec;105(12):1618-1622. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-318029. Epub 2020 Nov 23. PMID: 33230058.
* Hsu CH, Lin CP, Lin CH, Li CH. Risk factors and outcome of subconjunctival hemorrhage in patients on antithrombotic therapy. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 23;13(10):e0206102. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206102. PMID: 30350481; PMCID: PMC6198971.
* Epley LE, Skelley NW, Mylott L, Herodes M, O'Keefe M, Skelley J. Evaluation and Management of Red Eye. Mil Med. 2017 Mar;182(S1):159-165. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00109. PMID: 29087570.
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Subconjunctival Hemorrhage - American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-subconjunctival-hemorrhage