Vision Health Library
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage: Causes, Symptoms and When to See an Eye Doctor
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a small area of bleeding beneath the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye. It can look dramatic because the blood appears bright red, but many cases are minor and resolve on their own.
The appearance can be alarming, especially when the redness seems to appear suddenly. In many cases, however, the bleeding is limited to the surface of the eye and does not affect vision.
What Is a Subconjunctival Hemorrhage?
The conjunctiva is the thin, clear membrane that covers the white portion of the eye. Tiny blood vessels lie beneath this tissue.
If one of these vessels breaks, a small amount of blood can collect underneath the conjunctiva. Because the tissue is transparent, the blood is easily visible and may appear as a sharply defined red patch.
What Causes a Subconjunctival Hemorrhage?
A small blood vessel in the eye can break for a number of reasons. Sometimes there is no obvious cause.
Common triggers can include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Straining
- Heavy lifting
- Rubbing the eye
- Minor eye trauma
In some cases, a subconjunctival hemorrhage may also occur after an eye injury or other trauma.
What Does It Look Like?
The most noticeable sign is a bright red area on the white part of the eye.
The patch may be small or may cover a larger portion of the sclera, the white outer layer of the eye.
The color may gradually change as the blood is reabsorbed, much like a bruise on the skin changes color while healing.
Does a Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Cause Pain?
A simple subconjunctival hemorrhage usually does not cause significant pain or loss of vision.
Some people may notice mild irritation or a slight sensation of fullness, but severe pain is not typical and may suggest another problem.
Can It Affect Vision?
In most uncomplicated cases, a subconjunctival hemorrhage does not interfere with vision because the bleeding occurs on the surface of the eye rather than inside the structures responsible for sight.
If redness is accompanied by blurred vision, double vision or another significant visual change, the eye should be evaluated.
How Long Does It Take to Go Away?
The body gradually reabsorbs the trapped blood. Many subconjunctival hemorrhages clear over a period of days to a couple of weeks.
The red area may change color and become smaller as healing progresses.
Does It Require Treatment?
Many uncomplicated cases do not require specific treatment.
If the eye feels mildly irritated, lubricating eye drops may sometimes improve comfort, but they do not make the blood disappear more quickly.
When Redness Follows an Eye Injury
A red patch that develops after being struck in or around the eye should be taken more seriously because trauma can also injure structures beneath the surface.
An eye examination can help determine whether the redness is limited to a subconjunctival hemorrhage or whether additional injury is present.
When to See an Eye Doctor
A subconjunctival hemorrhage should be evaluated if it occurs after significant trauma or is accompanied by unusual symptoms.
Seek eye care if you experience:
- Eye pain
- Blurred or decreased vision
- Double vision
- Significant swelling
- Light sensitivity
- Repeated episodes of bleeding
- Redness following a significant eye or head injury
Repeated subconjunctival hemorrhages may also deserve further evaluation, especially if they occur without an obvious trigger.
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage or Something More Serious?
Not every red eye is caused by a broken surface blood vessel. Infection, inflammation, corneal injury and glaucoma can also cause redness.
Pain, vision changes, discharge or significant sensitivity to light are not typical of a simple subconjunctival hemorrhage and should not be ignored.
At Choice Vision Care & Wellness in Wellington, Florida, Dr. Salvatore DeCanio can evaluate sudden eye redness and determine whether the condition is a simple subconjunctival hemorrhage or another eye problem requiring treatment.