A popped or ruptured blood vessel in the eye is commonly called subconjunctival hemorrhage. Here, we shall discuss this condition in a bit more detail.
What is a Popped Blood Vessel?
If you look at the eyeball, the white of the eye is covered by a thin layer of tissue called the conjunctiva. The rupture of a blood vessel that lies just beneath this conjunctiva is called a popped blood vessel or subconjunctival hemorrhage.
Causes
The blood vessels that are present under the conjunctiva are extremely small and very fragile. Normally these vessels are invisible to the naked eye, but in the presence of inflammation they become dilated and prominent. Because of their thin walls, they are fragile and can rupture. This rupture can result in bleeding behind the eye.
In most cases of subconjunctival hemorrhage, there is no clear cause identified. However, certain precipitating factors such as coughing or sneezing can cause it. Infections of the eye can also cause redness. Excessive straining due to vomiting or lifting heavy objects is also a precipitating factor. Eye infections are a well recognized cause.
Symptoms and Signs
Patients can rarely have symptoms from a popped blood vessel. There may be some mild irritation due to the blood under the eye. On clinical examination, the hemorrhage is clearly evident with the margins of the blood collection clearly definable. Blood does not exit the eye and remains in the eyeball, spreading under the tissue if the bleeding is bad. The bleeding starts as a small spot and can expand rapidly.
However, some patients may develop symptoms such as pain in the eyeball and alteration in vision. There may be a background history of trauma to the eyeball, or patients may be on medications that thin the blood.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is through clinical examination. No additional tests are required.
Treatment
The treatment is simple observation in most cases. If patients are on blood thinning medications, it may be required to stop them till the bleeding subsides. Often it takes around 2 weeks for the clinical signs to disappear.
If infection is the cause of a popped blood vessel, antibiotic eye ointments or drops may be prescribed.
Finally, if patients are getting recurrent bleeding in the eye without any particular trigger, then tests may be needed to figure out if there is an underlying blood disorder that is affecting the clotting.
Conclusion
Popped blood vessel, also called subconjunctival hemorrhage is a common benign condition. Treatment requires simple observation and most cases settle down by themselves.