What to do for broken eye blood vessel

The outside of the human eye is covered with a thin transparent tissue – the conjunctiva. It is a mucous membrane that contains many thin blood vessels. If the vessels dilate for any reason, redness of the eye may occur, which is noticeable from the outside. But sometimes they do not just expand, but burst.

When blood enters the space between the conjunctiva and the sclera (the white membrane of the eye), from the outside it looks as if the eye is completely or partially covered with blood. This makes an intimidating impression. However, the bleeding itself does not cause pain or visual impairment. A person may not feel anything at all and continue to lead a normal life, go about daily activities until others tell him what his eyes look like, or until he looks at himself in the mirror. However, a blood vessel can be painful. In this case, you should visit a doctor.

A red spot in the eye due to pressure can dissolve over time. But even if such a hemorrhage has not entailed any health consequences, it is still unpleasant. What if you need to perform in front of an audience, go on a romantic date, or have business partner dates? In this case, you start looking for some effective treatment methods for this ailment.

Causes of Popped Blood vessel in the Eye

A large hemorrhage may be a sign of a much more serious problem. Due to high blood or intraocular pressure, retinal tears or detachment, which can be caused, for example, by a strong blow to the head, the blood vessel in the eye of the iris, or the ciliary body of the eye may burst, and retinal hemorrhage may occur. This can lead to loss of vision, so the ophthalmologist must perform examinations and determine the nature of the damage, as well as the degree of its severity. In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary, for example, removal of blood from the anterior chamber or vitreous body, laser coagulation of the retina, aimed at removing tears.

The blood vessels in the conjunctiva are very thin and fragile.

There are common causes of popped blood vessels in the eyes:

  • a sudden increase in blood pressure – usually, in this case, single vessels burst, so the hemorrhage will be punctгured;
  • severe vomiting;
  • an acute attack of glaucoma – an eye disease, a characteristic feature of which is an increase in intraocular pressure;
  • inflammatory eye diseases – bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis;
  • sudden physical activity, for example, lifting a lot of weight;
  • long-term use of medications that thin the blood;
  • injuries – bruises, foreign objects in the eyes;
  • complications after ophthalmic surgery.

The likelihood that the vessels in the eye may burst increases with some age-related and chronic diseases. For example, with atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus, the walls of the vessels become thinner and easily torn.

Lack of vitamins can also lead to the fact that the walls of the blood vessels become thinner and easier to break with increased pressure or increased physical activity.

What to do for broken eye blood vessel

Popped blood vessels treatment

With burst blood vessel, no special treatment is usually required.

  1. When blood is poured into the space between the conjunctiva and the sclera, it is often enough just to wait until the red spot dissolves. Unfortunately, it takes several days, and there are no remedies that give an instant effect and help immediately get rid of the hemorrhage.
  2. However, you still need to see an ophthalmologist. Bursting blood vessels can indicate various diseases, as well as the fact that you need to change your lifestyle. The specialist will conduct an examination and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.
  3. The ophthalmologist may recommend eye drops or other medications that have a good resolving effect.
  4. The dosage is determined for each patient individually and is usually 1-2 drops 2-4 times a day for 10-15 days.

You need to contact a specialist as soon as possible if:

  • hemorrhage is accompanied by painful sensations;
  • blood vessels burst not only in the eye (for example, hemorrhage in the eye coincides with bleeding gums);
  • the vessels burst in both eyes.

If you are taking blood thinners and a blood vessel in your eye has burst, you should also see your doctor.

Also, if a blood vessel in your eye has burst, it is necessary to eliminate the causes and prescribe treatment. Examples of possible sources of illness:

  • if the cause is inflammatory eye diseases, a specialist may prescribe antiviral or anti-inflammatory eye drops;
  • if the vessels have burst due to increased physical activity during training, the doctor may advise for a while to give up active exercises;
  • If the reason is high blood pressure or general diseases of the body, the ophthalmologist will recommend contacting the appropriate specialists.

Usually, the red spot in the eye will completely dissolve within about 7-10 days. But on the first or second day after you notice the hemorrhage, you may be faced with the fact that its area will increase. This is usually not because the hemorrhage is ongoing. It’s just that the blood between the conjunctiva and the sclera is redistributed, the thickness of the clot decreases, and the area grows. After a while, the growth of the spot will stop and it will begin to decline.

What to do for broken eye blood vessel

Limitations and Preventions of Popped Blood Vessel

Things you shouldn`t do with popped blood vessel:

First of all, you can not self-medicate.

You should not go to the pharmacy and consult a pharmacist about what drops are needed if a vessel bursts. You run the risk of not only choosing an insufficiently effective remedy but also worsening the condition of the eyes. You should discuss with your ophthalmologist if and how many eyes drops you need.
For questions related to wearing contact lenses, you also need to consult a specialist.

Also, if a vessel has burst in your eye, you cannot:

  • touch the eye and even more rub it – this can increase the hemorrhage;
  • rinse the eye – this can also cause increased hemorrhage;
  • continue to wear contact lenses – they will have to be removed;
  • make warm lotions, for example, with tea or herbal decoctions;

Prevention of Popped Blood Vessel

To reduce the likelihood that one day you will encounter the problem of eye redness due to a popped blood vessel, you can take the following preventive measures:

  1. Try to avoid excessive physical activity. If you play sports or fitness, follow the advice of your trainer or instructor to avoid overexerting yourself.
  2. Monitor your health and treat diseases on time, the consequences of which may be hemorrhage in the eye.
  3. More attention should be paid to nutrition. Many foods contain vitamins that can improve blood circulation in the eyes. It is especially important to eat foods that contain B group vitamins. In combination with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), they can reduce the permeability and fragility of the blood vessel, improve its elasticity. Such vitamins are found, for example, in apricots, cherries, rose hips, tomatoes, and raspberries. They are also available in dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 75%. If you do not have the ability or desire to include these foods in your diet, you can use special vitamin complexes for the eyes. There are also vitamin drops, which contain substances that strengthen the blood vessels of the eyes.

FAQ

When is it necessary to visit a doctor with burst blood vessels in the eye?

You need to contact a specialist as soon as possible if:

  • hemorrhage is accompanied by painful sensations;
  • blood vessels burst not only in the eye (for example, hemorrhage in the eye coincides with bleeding gums);
  • the vessels burst in both eyes.

What do burst blood vessels in the eye mean?

If a small rupture occurs under the conjunctiva, the blood vessels also rupture. However, a subconjunctival hemorrhage shouldn’t interfere with your vision or cause pain or fluid production.

What do burst blood vessels look like?

Outside, it is constantly washed by the tear produced by the lacrimal glands. Hemorrhages in the eye are subdivided according to the place where the blood accumulates: with hyposhagmus, blood accumulates between the conjunctiva and the sclera due to damage to the conjunctival vessels. It looks like a bright red spot on the white of the eye.

What is the most effective treatment for blood vessels in the eye?

One of the most radical and effective methods of treating hemophthalmos of the eye in retinopathy is a vitrectomy. This is a surgical procedure, during which the ophthalmologist-surgeon removes pathological formations from the vitreous body, restores its transparency, and improves the visual functions of the eye.

What causes broken blood vessels in one eye?

The following actions may cause a small blood vessel to rupture in your eye: Violent coughing. Powerful sneezing. Straining.

When should I worry about a broken blood vessel in my eye?

Call your doctor if the blood doesn't go away in 2 or 3 weeks, if you also have pain or vision problems, if you have more than one subconjunctival hemorrhage, or if the blood is anywhere inside the colored part of your eye (iris).

Is a broken blood vessel in the eye serious?

While the appearance of a broken blood vessel in your eye can be concerning, it often occurs without doing any obvious harm to your eye and is not dangerous. In most cases, you won't even notice it. Health complications from broken blood vessels in your eye are rare and just look worse than it is.

How do you heal a broken blood vessel in your eye naturally?

With all the possible causes, there is only one treatment for a burst blood vessel – time! Subconjunctival hemorrhages generally treat themselves, as the conjunctiva slowly absorbs the blood over time. Think of it like a bruise on the eye. Expect a full recovery within two weeks, without any long-term complications.