Blood in the eye is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the eye. As a rule, it occurs without further symptoms and is broken down by the body on its own after a few weeks. If other symptoms accompany the appearance of blood in the eye, the affected person should consult a doctor, who can rule out possible diseases.
What is blood in the eye?
Blood in the eye usually occurs on one side and is painless. The bleeding is not usually associated with inflammation or vision problems, but it may be accompanied by irritation of the eye. Blood in the eye is an accumulation of blood between the sclera and conjunctiva of the eye. It manifests as bright red spots on the eyeball. Accumulation of blood may occur in the vitreous humor of the eye, causing the iris to turn red. If the entire conjunctiva is hypohematosed, it is called a hyposphagma. Blood in the eye usually occurs on one side and is painless. The hemorrhage is usually not associated with inflammation or visual disturbances, but may be accompanied by irritation of the eye. Blood in the eye is common.
Causes
Several causes can cause blood vessels in the conjunctiva to rupture. The result is blood in the eye. Increased pressure on the eye, such as occurs during physical exertion, can cause bleeding in the eye. Causes include vomiting, sneezing, coughing, pushing (during defecation or childbirth), exercising, lifting heavy weights, or performing pressure equalization in the middle ear. High blood pressure can also damage vessels in the eye. Injuries to the eye, as well as eye surgery, can cause bleeding in the eye, as can mechanical stimuli, such as vigorous eye rubbing. Blood in the eye may be due to conjunctivitis, dry eyes, or other eye diseases. Other physical conditions, such as diabetes or blood clotting disorders, may also trigger blood in the eye. Anticoagulant medications can trigger blood clotting disorders. In some cases, wearing contact lenses triggers bleeding in the eye, and foreign bodies that get into the eye can also be a cause. Blood in the eye is also more common in older people.
Diseases with this symptom
- Lassa fever
- Arteriosclerosis
- Thrombosis
- Chlamydia
- Eye inflammation
- Dengue fever
- Leptospirosis
- Eye injuries
- Corneal inflammation
- Conjunctivitis
- Hemorrhagic fever
- Ebola
- Hypertension
- Blood clotting disorder
- Blindness
Diagnosis and course
Pressure on the eye caused by physical exertion usually leads to blood in the eye without any other symptoms. The body breaks down the blood within a few weeks. If underlying eye diseases are present, further symptoms, such as burning, itching, or purulent discharge, are usually to be expected. If vision is impaired, bleeding in the vitreous body of the eye should be considered. Since blood has gotten behind the lens here, there are sometimes considerable visual disturbances. A doctor makes the diagnosis and makes sure that no other diseases are present. For diagnosis, the ophthalmologist uses a slit lamp, which allows him to see inside the eye. He rules out the possibility that a foreign body has entered the eye. If other, physical diseases are suspected, he refers the affected person to the relevant specialist.
Complications
Blood in the eye probably indicates “only” a burst vein. As a rule, no further symptoms occur and after a certain time it disappears on its own. However, it could also be due to a disease of the eye, a visit to an ophthalmologist will provide information. Blood in the eye occurs relatively often, it is an accumulation of blood, between the sclera and conjunctiva. If too much blood accumulates in the vitreous body of the eye, even the whole iris can turn red. Usually it is observed only in one eye and is absolutely painless. As a rule, bleeding in the eye is not accompanied by inflammation or visual disturbances. There are many causes of blood in the eye; sneezing, coughing or physical exertion can cause a vessel in the eye to rupture. This phenomenon also occurs frequently during sports, for example when lifting heavy weights. Likewise, pressure equalization in the middle ear or high blood pressure can be responsible. After eye surgery, blood in the eye can occur very often, it is a normal reaction to the surgery.Of course, eye diseases can be to blame, diabetes or blood clotting disorders can also trigger blood in the eye. Sometimes the bleeding is also triggered by contact lenses, but this is rather rare. In older people, blood in the eye occurs more often, but this is normal.
When should you go to the doctor?
Bleeding in the eye can have numerous causes. Since therapy may have to be started or other steps taken immediately, a visit to the doctor should not be delayed. In order not to provoke a loss of vision, a speedy procedure is required. If there is blood in the eye, it may even be advisable to see an ophthalmologist immediately. If an appointment cannot be obtained quickly enough, a visit to the family doctor is also advisable. This is especially true if the bleeding is almost certainly due to traumatic external causes such as a fall or a blow. Often the blood in the eye is a hematoma. Children should never wait to see a doctor because their bodies are not yet fully developed. It is therefore always imperative to seek medical advice. But even with adults, waiting can be irresponsible. This is especially true if there is a reduction or loss of vision in the affected eye. In such cases, medical measures to avert danger must be initiated immediately. Otherwise, there may be a risk of irreversible long-term consequences that lead to a significant reduction in quality of life.
Treatment and therapy
Ruptured blood vessels usually do not require treatment. However, a number of measures can facilitate the healing process. These include the application of cooling compresses. Artificial tears relieve irritation of the eye. If there are other underlying diseases, the therapy depends on the type of disease. In the case of conjunctivitis, a doctor prescribes eye drops or ointments. These are antibiotic if a bacterial infection is the trigger of the conjunctivitis. Once therapy has begun, the symptoms subside within one to two weeks. During this time, good hygiene must be maintained, as conjunctivitis caused by bacteria is extremely contagious. If the affected person suffers from diabetes or blood coagulation disorders, the respective specialist will initiate appropriate treatment. In the case of diabetes, the doctor advises a low-sugar diet in addition to the administration of insulin, since elevated blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels. The damage shows up in the eyes, among other places. Large amounts of blood in the eye can damage the retina, leading to blindness. Treating blood clotting disorders prevents further bleeding in the eye. If contact lenses are the cause of blood in the eye, the affected person goes without contact lenses for a while. In cooperation with an ophthalmologist or optician, he clarifies which contact lenses he can wear in the future or whether he should do without them. If blood appears in the eye in older people, a doctor examines the eye pressure as a precaution. Permanently elevated eye pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve and requires immediate treatment. Usually, an ophthalmologist prescribes eye drops that lower eye pressure.
Outlook and prognosis
Anyone who notices blood in their own eye does not necessarily need to see a doctor immediately. As a rule, it is only burst veins, which are particularly prominent on the white eyeball. Already after two to four days the bleedings heal, without which medicines or the like must be taken. However, if this is not the case, a doctor should be consulted. First of all, the cause must be clarified, why said bleeding in the eye occurs. These causes can be various, such as physical exertion or chronic high blood pressure. If bleeding in the eye occurs repeatedly, the advice of a doctor must also be sought. In rare cases, bleeding in the eye can be a symptom of an impending heart attack or stroke. Only those who consult a doctor at an early stage can detect serious diseases at an early stage and have them treated accordingly. However, if a bleeding in the eye occurs once, it is not necessary to consult a doctor directly. Even without explicit treatment, the bleeding will disappear within two days. Of course, anti-inflammatory drops or ointments can also be used if a slight burning of the eye should occur.
Prevention
If there are underlying diseases, blood in the eye can be prevented to a certain extent. The most important preventive measure for conjunctivitis is good hygiene to avoid infection. Diabetics are encouraged to eat a healthy diet low in sugar to keep blood sugar levels low. Since blood in the eye caused by damaged blood vessels is usually harmless in nature, prevention is not necessary. However, frequent sufferers should seek the advice of an ophthalmologist.
What you can do yourself
If you notice blood in your own eye, you should not immediately panic. In most cases, it is merely burst veins that appear painlessly on the white eyeball. Affected individuals can use anti-inflammatory agents to speed healing of the tissue. Cooling compresses that can be held on the eye for a short period of time will promote the healing process and cause the red veins to recede. Moisturizing eye ointments can also help speed healing. To avoid further straining and stressing the eye, heavy activities or exertion should be avoided altogether. Strong drafts and dry heating air unnecessarily strain the eye or connective tissue. Therefore, a constant air humidity in the own four walls is to be paid attention to. Otherwise, the connective tissue can further inflame and not regenerate as desired. The cause of burst veins is an overload of the body, such as lifting heavy objects. Small veins in particular are especially sensitive to pressure, so that they burst even under minor stress. As a rule, burst veins in the eye do not require a visit to an ophthalmologist. The conjunctiva regenerates on its own after only two to four days.