Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a small collection of blood underneath the conjunctiva. The whole white part of your eye or just some of it will be bright red.

• The blood comes from a small broken blood vessel on the surface of your eye

• A subconjunctival hemorrhage doesn't affect your vision

• A subconjunctival hemorrhage may look scary but is harmless unless whatever caused it also damaged other parts of your eye

• It goes away on its own, usually within 2 weeks

Parts of the Eye

A subconjunctival hemorrhage sometimes just happens. More often it's caused by:

• A minor eye injury

• Straining, lifting, or pushing something

• Throwing up, sneezing, or coughing very hard

The only symptom is:

• Your whole eye or part of it looks red

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

Image

DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

You won't have any pain or any problem with your vision. If you do, it's a sign that something else may be wrong with your eye.

Doctors examine your eye and check your vision. You don't need any tests unless you have other symptoms that suggest a serious injury. Such symptoms could be eye or face pain, trouble seeing, a swollen eye, or blood inside your eyeball.

Doctors don’t treat a subconjunctival hemorrhage because it goes away on its own.