Eye Hemorrhage: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

An ocular hemorrhage occurs when blood vessels rupture in the conjunctiva, the tissue that covers the white part of the eye. It’s also called subconjunctival hemorrhage or hyphema.

The result is the appearance of small red veins in the eye or small blood spots.

These eye discharges are benign and are usually caused by minor microtraumas.

In these cases, the blood in the eye is reabsorbed within a few days and does not cause discomfort or vision problems.

However, eye bleeding can sometimes be a symptom of bad habits, an eye condition that needs treatment, or even a serious illness.

Causes of eye hemorrhage

An eye hemorrhage can have a wide variety of causes. Common causes include:

Eye trauma

A blow to the eye can cause bleeding and the appearance of small red veins or spots.

However, this eye trauma is often caused by the habit of rubbing the eyes with the hands.

This is especially common in people with dry eyes and contact lens dry eye.

Also, in ophthalmological conditions that cause itching in the eyes and eyelid area, such as blepharitis, dermatitis of the eyelids, and eye allergies.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis and red eyes go hand in hand. Any eye infection can be accompanied by redness and particularly visible red veins in the eyes.

The itching caused by conjunctivitis also encourages scratching and, as a result, the appearance of eye discharge and other possible problems such as eyelash loss.

Coughing and sneezing

Coughing and sneezing that occur with respiratory infections and allergies can cause blood pressure to rise sharply.

This can cause capillaries to break and eye bleeding to occur.

Therefore, eye care is especially important in autumn and winter, as this is when respiratory infections are most common.

Also, in spring, for those who suffer from allergies.

Vomiting

Like coughing and sneezing, vomiting also raises blood pressure.

Thus, it is possible to observe red dots around the eyes after vomiting.

Constipation

People with constipation may experience eye bleeding due to the strain they must make to evacuate.

Physical effort

It is also possible to experience ocular bleeding or red eyes due to physical exertion, especially in cases where the exertion is performed using a Valsalva maneuver.

That is, taking a deep breath and exerting force without exhaling. For example, in weightlifting.

Delivery

Directed pushing is often performed in apnea, using a Valsalva maneuver.

This causes many women to experience bleeding in the eye after giving birth.

Drugs

Antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications can promote the leakage of blood vessels in the eye.

In this sense, people who take aspirin or acenocoumarol are more vulnerable to bleeding and may experience veins, spots, or red dots in their eyes more frequently.

Some commonly used anti-inflammatories can also worsen an eye hemorrhage if taken at the same time as the episode.

Hypertension

An eye bleed can be a symptom of high blood pressure.

However, it does not indicate high eye pressure (intraocular pressure), as this usually does not present any warning signs.

Diabetes

Diabetes in the eye can manifest with an increased tendency to suffer from eye strokes.

This is because this disease, when not well controlled, causes vascular damage, and small capillaries are the first to be affected.

Eye surgery

A small amount of bleeding in the eye can be expected after eye surgery, especially in the case of laser eye surgery.

Other possible causes of permanent red veins or bleeding in the eye may be certain hematological diseases or malformations and abnormalities in the capillaries of the eyes .

Is it possible to have an eye stroke due to stress?

There is a belief that you can have an eye hemorrhage due to stress.

Although not a direct cause, chronic stress can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to eye bleeding.

At the same time, during periods of stress, blepharitis can appear due to stress and eye fatigue, which can lead to eye rubbing and the appearance of these lesions.

Thus, bleeding and red eyes may not be caused solely by stress, but they may coincide with periods of heightened anxiety.

An eye hemorrhage usually occurs spontaneously, without being a symptom of any health problem.

Symptoms of eye hemorrhage

The main symptom of ocular hemorrhage is the presence of a red spot in the eye on the white part (sclera).

It can also manifest with dilated and much more visible veins in the eye.

Although this type of bleeding in the eyes can be very noticeable, these hemorrhages usually do not present other symptoms or cause pain.

Sometimes they may be accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body or scratching on the surface of the eye.

These red spots are deep red and usually increase in size during the first 24 to 48 hours.

They gradually lighten from red to yellow and usually disappear completely within 1 to 3 weeks.

Eye bleeding and headaches are not usually directly related, but they may share the same origin, such as respiratory infections, eye strain, or stress.

Thus, both conditions can coincide in time.

What are the signs of a serious eye stroke?

If you experience pain and bleeding in the eye, you should see a doctor immediately. This is also true if it is accompanied by other bleeding in the face or other parts of the body and/or decreased visual acuity.

Also, if there is eye trauma due to a blow, and it is accompanied by pain, blurred vision, or loss of vision.

Other reasons that require medical attention are the presence of a painful red eye, very extensive red spots, or episodes of recurrent eye discharge.

Finally, you should evaluate if the effusion does not resolve within three weeks, affects both the right and left eyes simultaneously, you suffer from hypertension or diabetes,/or you are taking anticoagulant medication.

Eye hemorrhage and cancer are not necessarily related. Eye cancer (ocular melanoma) can present with a growing spot or dot on the iris, but these are brownish-black and do not cause a hemorrhage.

Treatments for eye effusions

In the case of subconjunctival hemorrhage, treatment will depend on the cause.

If you can identify the reason why your eye becomes red and bloody , the first thing to do is to treat the pathology that is causing it.

If it’s a side effect of a medication, you can consult your doctor about measures to prevent eye bleeding.

However, it’s worth remembering that in the vast majority of cases, these are benign, one-off episodes that will resolve on their own within a few days.

There are some general recommendations to promote recovery and prevent the bleeding from worsening or new red spots from appearing on the eyes:

Do not rub or put pressure on your eyes.
Do not cover your eyes with patches or gauze.
Do not self-medicate.
Avoid making significant physical efforts.
Do not cover your nose when sneezing or hold back sneezes.
Prevent constipation.
Have good eye hygiene habits.
Using artificial tears can help prevent eye discharge in people with dry eyes or contact lens wearers.
Avoid the continued use of eye drops for red eyes. These have a decongestant effect and reduce redness.