Subconjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessel in eye)

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

Tests and diagnosis Complications Treatments and drugs Prevention

Definition

You go into the bathroom, look in the mirror — and you're stunned to find the white part of your eye is bright red. It looks frightening and painful, and yet it doesn't hurt, and your vision is unaffected. In fact, if you hadn't looked in the mirror, you probably wouldn't even have suspected a problem. What you're seeing is likely a subconjunctival hemorrhage, sometimes called red eye.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage occurs when a tiny blood vessel breaks just underneath the clear surface of your eye (conjunctiva). The conjunctiva can't absorb the blood quickly, so you're left with the equivalent of a bruise, except the blood is trapped under this transparent surface instead of the skin. This may create a rather frightening picture, but a subconjunctival hemorrhage is usually a harmless condition that disappears within 10 to 14 days.

Subconjunctival hemorrhage often occurs without any injury to the eye, or it may be the result of a strong sneeze or cough causing a broken blood vessel. No specific treatment is needed for a subconjunctival hemorrhage.

If you have recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages or other bleeding, talk to your doctor. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications or supplements you take.

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Symptoms