What is a Subconjunctival Hemorrhage?

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a bleed underneath the conjunctiva of the eye, the delicate membrane which covers the sclera, or white of the eye. When this condition develops, the white of the eye turns bright red, because the blood is trapped between the conjunctiva and the sclera. This condition can look quite alarming, but it is usually perfectly harmless, and it will resolve on its own within two weeks.

The symptoms of are fairly obvious, but because the condition doesn't cause any pain or discomfort, the condition might be noticed by a friend or coworker before the patient spots it. Typically a subconjunctival hemorrhage takes the form of a bright red spot in the white of the eye which may spread to cover much more of the white, depending on the severity of the bleed. For the first few days, the hemorrhage can look extremely ugly. However, like a bruise, it will start to fade, turning bluish, green, and yellowish before disappearing entirely.

There are a number of causes for subconjunctival hemorrhages. Trauma to the eye is a leading cause, along with heavy lifting, stress, physical strain, intense vomiting, and some surgeries. Usually, the condition is an isolated problem, but it can be the symptom of an underlying issue. For this reason, some people like to go to the doctor to confirm that they really do have a subconjunctival hemorrhage. A doctor should always be consulted if the hemorrhage is accompanied by impaired vision, eye pain, nausea, or headaches.

The best treatment is no treatment. The bleed has usually stopped by the time it is identified, and eventually the blood will work its way out of the eyeball on its own. It's a good idea to avoid touching the area around the eye or compressing the eye during the healing stages. If the eye becomes itchy, as sometimes happens, soothing eye drops can be used to ease the itching. Dark glasses can be worn by patients who are tired of receiving comments about their reddened eyes.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage every now and then is nothing to be concerned about, but if the condition recurs often, it may indicate that an underlying medical condition needs to be addressed. People who frequently suffer from subconjunctival hemorrhages may want to talk to a doctor. Sometimes the condition can be addressed with dietary changes, the discontinuation of certain medications or supplements, or a break from heavy exercise.