A broken blood vessel in the eye is known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, and is probably one of the most common injuries that can happen to an eye. While it sounds bad, most of the time a subconjunctival hemorrhage is not a major issue. Even a particularly hard sneeze can potentially burst a vessel.
Still, in some cases a subconjunctival hemorrhage can be serious, so it’s important to pay attention if you or a family member develops one.
What To Know About Broken Blood Vessels In The Eye
The symptoms of a subconjunctival hemorrhage are obvious: a big red blotch in the sclera (white) of the eye. There is typically very little pain, at most a slightly uncomfortable itch or throb at the site of the damage.
Because the cornea (lens) of the eye is separate from the sclera, a broken vessel typically does not affect eyesight.
The most common cause of subconjunctival hemorrhages is a sudden rush of blood to the head and eyes, which overloads one of the tiny blood vessels in the eye. These can include:
- Heavy sneezes
- Violent coughing
- Intense vomiting
- Straining
- Prolonged time upside down
- Dirty or mishandled contact lenses damaging the eye
In addition, direct damage to the eye – such as punches, or an impact from a sports ball – can burst a blood vessel. Blood vessels can also be damaged by penetration from a foreign object, but that is a much more serious issue.
A person may be more at-risk of subconjunctival hemorrhages if they have diabetes or hypertension. In addition, medications which affect bloodflow, like blood thinners, can make a person more vulnerable to broken vessels.
Treatment For Subconjunctival Hemorrhages
Generally speaking, the wound will heal itself like any other minor cut or scrape. If, for example, you have a hard sneeze and it bursts a blood vessel, you probably don’t even need to seek treatment.
That said, there are situations where you should contact an eye doctor:
- The damage is caused by a foreign object in the eye
- You have several burst vessels in a short span of time
- The damage is due to head injury
- You experience other symptoms such as vision loss
- The wound does not heal within a few days
If you have a burst blood vessel in your eye that’s giving you trouble, Valley Eyecare Center is here to help! Click here to schedule an appointment with us.
