A Guide to Subconjunctival Hemorrhage, Including Causes and Treatment
Subconjunctival hemorrhage is the result of tiny broken blood vessels located under the clear surface of your eye (referred to as conjunctiva). Subconjunctival hemorrhage may not be obvious until you look at your eyes in the mirror and see that your eyes are bright red in the white part. What happens is that the conjunctiva is unable to absorb the blood fast enough, and the blood gets trapped under its surface, which is transparent. This may look frightening and feel painful, but it is generally quite harmless and goes away on its own within 10 to 14 days. This article answers two important questions – what are the causes of subconjunctival hemorrhage, and what are the subconjunctival hemorrhage treatments?
Subconjunctival hemorrhage causes are various and it is usually difficult to pinpoint a specific cause. It may occur after some injury to the eye, but sometimes without any injury at all. Subconjunctival hemorrhage causes also include sneezing or coughing too hard, as well as violent vomiting. Heavy lifting may also cause the blood vessels in your eyes to burst. People who have hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes are usually more at risk. If you are taking medications for blood thinning, such as aspirin or warfarin, this may also be one of the subconjunctival hemorrhage causes. Certain herbal supplements like gingko could put you at risk of the condition as well. Finally, newborns may also experience this condition due to the pressure changes during delivery. If it is not serious, subconjunctival hemorrhage treatment is not necessary.
Even though it looks bloody, subconjunctival hemorrhage should not make your vision different in any way and there should be no discharge of any kind coming out of it. The only discomfort you experience should be a scratchy sensation on the eye’s surface. If you notice that there is a bright red patch in your eye as opposed to just some burst blood vessels, you should see your doctor. Also, you keep getting recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages, it would be a good idea to see the doctor too. The doctor is referred to as an ophthalmologist, and all this doctor needs to do is just look at your eye. You will probably not need any tests, but you will be asked some questions about your medical history. A routine blood test may be in store, as they will need to determine that you don’t have a general bleeding disorder. Make sure you tell your doctor about any herbal supplements you may be taking.
As for subconjunctival hemorrhage treatment, it is simple old eye drops. These “artificial tears” may be used to soothe the scratchy sensation you experience as a result of the burst blood vessels in your eyes. However, this only provides temporary relief. The only other thing you can do is wait, and the blood will absorb on its own within 10 to 14 days, and no further subconjunctival hemorrhage treatment will be required.
For more information, go to:
en.wikipedia.org
health-care-clinic.org
The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.
 Conjuctivitis 17 Mar 2011 |
