Everyone has repeatedly encountered the appearance of a red spot on the white of the eye. What it is? Why does it appear? Could it be dangerous?

Ophthalmologists call this a subconjunctival hemorrhage. The conjunctiva, the superficial mucous membrane of the eye, contains a large number of small blood vessels. When they are damaged, blood enters the space between the conjunctiva and the white of the eye. Usually , subconjunctival hemorrhage, or hyposphagma , looks like a spot on one side or the other of the iris, and may occupy the entire palpebral fissure.

Also, hemorrhage can occur in the retina, vitreous body, anterior chamber of the eye or orbit.

Why is this happening?

Usually the vessels in the eyes burst due to jumps in blood pressure. This often happens during weather changes. Also the reason may be:

• lack of sleep;
• Ingress of a foreign body;
• Air travel (pressure drops, dry conditioned air);
• loud screaming or severe coughing, sneezing, crying, vomiting;
• Straining ;
• Childbirth, excessive physical activity, weight lifting;
• Injuries or previous surgical interventions, including laser vision correction;
• Blood clotting disorders ( hemorrhagic diseases);
• Taking aspirin or other drugs that thin the blood;
• Myopia (causes the formation of microcracks);
• Intraocular neoplasms that exert additional pressure;
• Hypertension, atherosclerosis, accompanied by a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, an increase in their fragility, narrowing of the arteries, varicose veins;
• Alcohol consumption – ethanol can disrupt blood circulation, cause tissue hypoxia;
• Keratitis – inflammation of the cornea;
• Viral, bacterial or allergic conjunctivitis;
• Diabetes, angiopathy.

What symptoms mean you need to see a doctor?

First of all, if subconjunctival hemorrhage is caused by an injury to the eye or head, it is observed immediately in both eyes, accompanied by other symptoms:

• Pain in the eye area;
• Decreased vision;
• Bleeding gums
• Discharge from the eyes.

Who should pay special attention to the appearance of red spots in the eye and take action?

• Primarily for people with diabetes. This chronic disease increases the risk of retinopathy and intraocular hemorrhage. In diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels in the retina are damaged – elevated glucose levels lead to blockage of the vessels in the eye. Because of this, the retina is covered with new small vessels that develop incorrectly. Since they are weak, they can leak and break;
• Hypertensive patients, cancer patients, patients with glaucoma – a disease that occurs due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP). These conditions are characterized by degenerative processes in the walls of capillaries and hemophthalmos – the ingress of blood into the vitreous body ( vitreum ) with a possible loss of the visual function of the eye.

What can not be done when the vessel burst in the eye?

The most important advice is not to self-medicate. Do not independently select drugs (eye drops or ointments), you risk aggravating the condition. If you experience discomfort, only an ophthalmologist after the diagnosis can give recommendations for treatment. It is also worth consulting with him about wearing contact lenses, most often they are required to be temporarily abandoned in favor of glasses.

If a red spot appears on the eye, you can not:

• Touch it with your hands, rub it, rinse it – this way you can increase the hemorrhage;
• Warm the eye, make compresses and lotions with decoctions;
• To be treated with folk remedies from the Internet, especially if this temporary aesthetic defect is combined with unpleasant symptoms.

How is hyposphagmus treated – bleeding in the eyes?

An ophthalmologist is engaged in the treatment of a burst vessel. If you have hypertension, you can contact the general practitioner or cardiologist you see with this problem.

To make a treatment plan, the ophthalmologist must understand the severity of the hemorrhage and make an accurate diagnosis. This will require an examination. It will allow to exclude vision-threatening pathologies. Diagnosis is aimed at determining the causes of capillary damage. First of all, the specialist will ask you questions and conduct a visual inspection. Additionally you will need:

• Visiometry to determine visual acuity;
• Biomicroscopy – study of the anterior segment of the eye (cornea, anterior chamber, lens, conjunctiva and eyelids). This will identify the source of bleeding and pathological changes;
• Cytology of a smear or scraping, bacteriological examination (if there is a discharge);
• Conducting laboratory tests (general blood test, coagulogram, glucose level).

Therapy will be aimed at eliminating the root cause of damage to the blood vessels. As a rule, the blood from the bursting vessel itself resolves from the places of accumulation. In cases where subconjunctival ruptures often occur with vascular pathologies, diabetes and dystrophy, the doctor may raise the issue of laser coagulation (cauterization). The procedure consists in applying microscopic burns and sealing weak blood vessels. This method is used when macular edema cannot be removed with the help of conservative treatment with drugs that relieve swelling and prevent abnormal vascular formation.

With hemophthalmia , treatment tactics depend on the stage of the disease. With partial damage, they dispense with the appointment of drugs that activate the production of plasminogen , as well as those containing prourokinase for resorption of blood clots. With subtotal or complete hemophthalmia , laser coagulation is also recommended , and in severe cases, vitrectomy is the almost complete removal of the vitreous body and the posterior limiting membrane along with blood clots.

Hyphema , the accumulation of blood between the cornea and the iris, involves regular medical supervision for several weeks or months, taking painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Transferred hyphema increases the likelihood of high IOP and glaucoma, so patients after such an injury should constantly monitor the state of the eyes in dynamics, limit physical activity and be sure to wear goggles with brown lenses.

Prevention

In order not to face such a problem as a burst vessel in the eye, you need to follow the preventive measures and instructions of your doctor. If you suffer from diabetes, control your sugar levels and remember to take your prescribed medications. General recommendations apply to anything that can cause pressure drops:

• Try not to overcool or overheat. Any critical temperature values are not useful. Temperatures that are too low cause all vessels to constrict, and high temperatures contribute to an increase in pressure. It is better not to stand in direct sunlight or at the stove on a hot day, avoid taking a hot bath and going to the bathhouse;
• Do not ignore gastrointestinal disturbances to avoid straining with constipation;
• From 9 pm to 8 am, eye pressure reaches its peak, at which time it is worth giving up caffeinated drinks;
• When holding your breath during diving, intracranial and intraocular pressure jumps sharply, be careful;
• Never use drugs containing atropine (such as nasal sprays) without prescription. Be sure to consult your doctor about the use of certain drugs and carefully read the instructions.

You have probably heard that the main enemy of the cardiovascular system is cholesterol, which provokes the thickening of their walls. In moderate concentration, it can benefit and strengthen them. It is also recommended to eat foods with capillary protective properties to strengthen the walls of blood vessels:

• Vegetables and greens (especially sorrel);
• Berries rich in vitamin C (cranberries, raspberries);
• legumes;
• Buckwheat;
• Fish and seafood;
• Milk.

List of vitamins that favorably affect the circulatory system:

• A (carrot, liver, broccoli, apricot, melon);
• B (eggs, herring, cereals);
• Groups PP, C, E – regulate the process of collagen formation and normalize lipid metabolism;
• K (prunes, cucumbers, olive oil, cayenne pepper).

A hemorrhage can occur for a harmless reason and go away on its own, or it can signal health problems or have unpleasant consequences. Therefore, even in the presence of a small amount of blood, it is better to consult an ophthalmologist. Don’t forget to get your annual scheduled checkup. The development of many eye diseases can be prevented or slowed down if they are diagnosed in time. Timely measures taken increase the chances of a full recovery and preservation of vision.