Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Howard LeWine, M.D., is Chief Medical Editor at Harvard Health Publishing and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.
Question:
I woke up 3 days ago with what looks like a little blood spot in the white part of my left eye. I don't have any pain and my vision is fine. But now almost the whole white part of the eye has turned red. Will this go away on its own?
Answer:
What you are describing sounds like a subconjunctival hemorrhage. That's the medical terminology for a couple of drops of blood that escape from one of the tiny blood vessels just below the surface of the eye. The blood is under the conjunctiva, the thin, clear layer of tissue that is the outermost coating of the eye.
Most often, subconjunctival hemorrhage occurs spontaneously. Sometimes it is related to trauma. On rare occasions it is associated with certain illnesses.
Although the eye can look very red, there should not be any pain or change in vision from a subconjunctival hemorrhage. When there is pain or sudden visual change with a red eye, another cause needs to be considered. In that case, it needs prompt medical evaluation.
Some medications may make it more likely to develop a subconjunctival hemorrhage. For example, people who take anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs ("blood thinners") are more likely to have a subconjunctival hemorrhage. But if you do take a blood thinner, don't stop the medicine because of a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Call your doctor first.
As frightening as subconjunctival hemorrhages look, they are not dangerous. The blood under the conjunctiva will get reabsorbed over time.
About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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