Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? A subconjunctival (sub-kon-jungk-TI-val) hemorrhage (HEM-oh-rij) is bleeding over the white of the eye. The conjunctiva is the clear lining that covers the white of your eye. The bleeding is from a tiny broken blood vessel under the conjunctiva (kon-junk-TI-vah). You may be surprised to see the bleeding spread, or "thin out", for up to two days after the blood vessel breaks. The bleeding will not hurt your eye or change your eyesight.

What can cause a subconjunctival hemorrhage?

• Hard coughing or sneezing.
  
  
• Vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Straining. This may happen from trying to lift something heavy or trying to have a bowel movement.
  
  
• Being on blood thinners or having high blood pressure.
  
  
• Rubbing your eye or from an eye injury.
  
  
• Sometimes it is not known what caused the bleeding.

What are the signs of a subconjunctival hemorrhage? You may see a patch of bright red blood over the white of your eye. With time the color changes to brown or green before going away.

How is a subconjunctival hemorrhage diagnosed? Your caregiver will examine your eye. Your caregiver may take your blood pressure. If you have bruising or bleeding in other areas of your body, more tests may also be done.

How is a subconjunctival hemorrhage treated? No special care is usually needed to treat your eye. Within one to three weeks, the blood will be gone and your eye will look normal. You may continue doing your usual daily activities. However, do not do heavy exercise such as running or lifting heavy objects for the first 24 hours.

Call your caregiver if:

• You have eye pain.
  
  
• You have very bad headaches.
  
  
• Your vision (seeing) changes.
  
  
• Your eye bleeding is not gone in three weeks.
  
  
• You have bleeding or bruising in other parts of your body.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page