What causes blood vessels in your eye to pop

The thought of a blood vessel bursting in your eye can be scary. What happened? Should you be worried? Can anything be done about it?

What is a ruptured blood vessel?

A broken blood vessel, also known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, is when a tiny blood vessel breaks just beneath the clear surface tissue overlying the white part of the eye.Then the blood gets trapped in the potential space between the sclera (the white part of your eye) and the conjunctiva (the clear cellophane-like tissue overlying the sclera) and can’t be quickly reabsorbed.

What causes a blood vessel in my eye to burst?

Ruptured blood vessels have a number of causes, including violent coughing, vomiting, powerful sneezes, and straining your body. Mechanical injuries from hitting or rubbing the eye can also cause a blood vessel to rupture. Oftentimes people will wake up in the morning with a subconjunctival hemorrhage, which is likely from rubbing the eye while sleeping.

People with diabetes, high blood pressure, or blood-clotting disorders, or those who take some blood-thinning medicines such as Aspirin, Plavix, Coumadin, and Eliquis, are at a much higher risk of rupturing a blood vessel in their eye.

Can a ruptured blood vessel hurt me?

While a burst blood vessel may look painful, they usually don’t hurt your eyes or affect your vision. You might feel some discomfort, such as a dull ache or even a scratchy feeling in the eye, however.

Do I need to visit a doctor?

Fortunately, a ruptured blood vessel in your eye is generally a minor self-limiting injury and will heal on its own within one to two weeks. Usually, you don’t need to see a doctor. However, if the rupture was caused by an injury, you are unsure of the cause, or if you are having any other symptoms such as pain or vision changes, then a doctor’s visit is always a good idea.

What can I do for my ruptured blood vessel?

What causes blood vessels in your eye to pop

There is not a whole lot you can do to speed the recovery, but you can treat any discomfort with over-the-counter artificial lubricating drops. CEENTA Eye Doctor Adrian Elfersy, MD, said.

Can I prevent blood vessels in my eye from bursting?

If you take blood-thinning medicine or have another medical condition that could exacerbate burst blood vessels, talk with your doctor about what you could do to minimize your risk. Try to avoid anything that could traumatize your eyes, such as rubbing them excessively.

A broken blood vessel in the eye shouldn’t be a source of fear. However, if your eye was injured or if you have any vision concerns, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with a CEENTA eye doctor today.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. Would you like an appointment with Dr. Elfersy? Call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a red spot on your eye caused by a broken blood vessel. It might look scary, but it’s usually harmless.

Your conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers your eye, has a lot of tiny blood vessels. When blood gets trapped beneath this layer, it’s called subconjunctival. This blood doesn’t involve the inside of your eye or your cornea, so your vision isn’t affected.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Symptoms

You might not even know that a blood vessel has broken until you look in a mirror. You probably won’t notice any symptoms like vision changes, discharge, or pain. You may only have a scratchy feeling on the surface of your eye.

The red spot may grow over 24 to 48 hours. Then it will slowly turn yellow as your eye absorbs the blood.

Call your doctor if the blood doesn’t go away in 2 or 3 weeks, if you also have pain or vision problems, if you have more than one subconjunctival hemorrhage, or if the blood is anywhere inside the colored part of your eye (iris).

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Causes

These hemorrhages often happen when your blood pressure spikes because of:

  • Strong sneezing
  • Straining
  • Powerful coughing
  • Vomiting

Some red spots result from an injury or illness, such as:

  • Roughly rubbing your eye
  • Injury, like having something stuck in your eye
  • Contact lenses
  • Viral infection
  • Surgery

Less common causes include:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Medicines that make you bleed easily, such as aspirin or blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin)
  • Blood clotting disorders

Your odds of getting a subconjunctival hemorrhage go up as you get older, especially after age 50, because you’re more likely to get conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Diagnosis

Your doctor can tell that you have a subconjunctival hemorrhage just from looking at your eye. They’ll ask about your overall health, including injuries. They may also check your blood pressure and look closely at your eye with a device called a slit lamp.

You could need a blood test to make sure you don't have a serious bleeding disorder.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Treatment

Most red spots heal on their own without treatment. Depending on how big it is, it may take a few days or a few weeks to go away. There’s no way to speed up this process.

Self-care

Ice packs and over-the-counter artificial tears can help ease any swelling and discomfort.

Medical care

Your doctor will treat any injury or condition that caused your subconjunctival hemorrhage, such as medication for high blood pressure.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Prevention

If you need to rub your eye, do it gently. If you wear contact lenses, clean and disinfect them regularly. Wear protective gear when you’re playing sports or doing activities that could cause an eye injury. Keep bleeding disorders under control.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Complications

In most cases, there are no complications. It’s rare, but a total subconjunctival hemorrhage may be a sign of a serious vascular disorder in older people.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Outlook

A subconjunctival hemorrhage will usually go away without causing any vision problems. It happens again about 10% of the time in most people, or more often in those who take medications like blood thinners.

Show Sources

SOURCES:

American Academy of Ophthalmology: “Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Causes,” “Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Treatment,” “What Is a Subconjunctival Hemorrhage?”

Mayo Clinic: “Subconjunctival Hemorrhage (broken blood vessel in eye): Diagnosis,” “Subconjunctival Hemorrhage (broken blood vessel in eye): Overview,”

When should I worry about a burst blood vessel in my eye?

Call your doctor if the blood doesn't go away in 2 or 3 weeks, if you also have pain or vision problems, if you have more than one subconjunctival hemorrhage, or if the blood is anywhere inside the colored part of your eye (iris).

Can stress cause a blood vessel to burst in your eye?

Sub-conjunctival haemorrhage is a very common cause of red eyes. It is caused typically by a sudden spike in blood pressure most commonly caused by stress, both physical and mental, although it can be a sign of underlying vascular illness such as high blood pressure.

How do you get rid of a popped blood vessel in your eye?

Treatment. You may want to use eye drops, such as artificial tears, to soothe any scratchy feeling you may be experiencing. Beyond that, the blood will absorb within about 1 to 2 weeks, and you'll need no treatment.

What causes blood vessels to burst around eyes?

Straining (during coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or while using the toilet) Injury to the head or eye, including infection. Rubbing the eye too hard. Wearing contact lenses.