Blood in Eyes – Reasons, Symptoms, and Treatment
Our eyes are considered extremely important as they help us see the world around us. However, there are a lot of issues that can plague our eyes and diminish good vision. A blood spot in the eye is one of the most important reasons to be taken care of at the earliest. Here is all information about blood in the eye, symptoms, and the best ways to treat it.
What is Blood in the Eye?
Blood in the eye or blood clot in the eye occurs when there is a broken blood vessel or bleeding occurring in the tissue that makes up the outer layers of the eyes. Whenever such bleeding occurs, the entire white area of the eye appears red or bloodshot. Apart from this, there can be reddish spots on the eyes’ surface. Another very unusual blood spot in the eye can occur from Hyphema in the middle portion.
Eye bleeding at the back of the eye can also cause eye redness. However, there can be several reasons for blood in the eye. It is good to get an eye check-up done to ensure no serious damage happens to the eyes.
There are a few different types and causes of blood in eye, which have been discussed ahead.
Different Types of Eye Infections that Cause Blood in Eye
Some of the reasons and causes of blood clot in the eye are mentioned below: –
- Subconjunctival haemorrhage
A subconjunctival haemorrhage occurs just below the conjunctiva of the eye. In such a situation, blood is trapped just below the conjunctiva and the white part of the eye. Due to subconjunctival haemorrhage, there will be a red patch on your eye or make the affected blood vessel extremely visible. However, a subconjunctival haemorrhage is harmless and is resolved within a week.
- Hyphema
Hyphema is a form of blood in eye which occurs between the cornea and the colored iris. It usually occurs when there is some damage or tears in the iris or pupil. However, it can also happen when an abnormal spread of blood vessels in the eyes, also known as neovascularization, occurs.
When an individual suffers from Hyphema, there can be part or complete block of vision in the affected eye. Hyphema can cause a complete loss of vision if not treated on time.
- Other causes of haemorrhage
At times there is blood in eye due to several other reasons that occur deeper within the eyes and are not visible on the surface. It can cause redness of the eyes. In addition, broken or damaged blood vessels can cause many complications within the eyeball. Some of the most common locations where blood clot in the eye can occur are as follows: –
- Vitreous haemorrhage that occurs in the liquid of the eye
- Subretinal haemorrhage that occurs within the retina
- Submacular haemorrhage that happens in the part of the retina known as the macula
Some other blood clot in eye reason can be as follows:
- Injury or strain caused due to sneezing, coughing, lifting something heavy, or an allergic reaction.
- Medications or health supplements like Heparin, Aspirin, or vitamin E can cause blood thinning.
- Health conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, or aneurysm can also cause blood spots in the eye.
All the causes mentioned above of blood in the eye are a good way to know the answers to why blood clot in eye. With the causes mentioned, it is also important to learn how you can diagnose blood in eye. Therefore, it will assist us in understanding blood clot in eye treatment, which will also be explained later.
Symptoms that Indicate Blood in Eye
Now that the cause of blood in eye has been understood, it is also important to learn the most common symptoms that can help understand how the diagnosis for blood in eye corner can be made correctly. Here are a few of the most common symptoms of blood in eye:
- Scratchy feeling in the eye
- Partial vision block due to the broken blood vessel
- Feeling fullness in the affected eye
Once these symptoms have been observed, it can take at least two to three weeks for the blood spot in eye to reduce and the eyes to come back to a normal state. However, if the blood in the eye does not reduce or cause pain within the mentioned duration, the individual should contact an eye specialist to diagnose blood in the eye. It will help diagnose a blood clot in eye treatment by the eye care practitioner.
Diagnosis of blood in eye
An eye care practitioner can diagnose a sudden appearance of blood in eye. Doing so helps in getting proper medical attention at the correct time. It also reduces the chances of suffering lasting damage to the individual’s vision due to blood clotting in the eye. The most important tests you may need to do are as follows:
- Pupil dilation test that requires the use of eye drops to open up the pupil
- Ultrasound scans to see inside and at the back of the eye
- CT Scans that help in checking for injuries within the eyes
- Blood tests to understand any underlying condition for eye complications
- Blood pressure test
Once all the above tests are completed, it becomes quite easy for the eye care professional to understand the reasons behind blood in eye. It will further help provide the best possible treatment for the condition.
Treatment for Blood in Eye
After understanding the causes, symptoms, and the process of diagnosing blood in eye, it is important to know how to treat the blood clotting in the eye. Taking the proper steps for a blood clot in eye treatment will help in reducing the chances of damaging the patient’s vision. Here are some of the most common ways to treat blood in eye:
- Supplementary eye drops for dry eyes
- Steroid based eye drops to reduce swelling
- Eye drops that can reduce pain
- Surgery to drain excess blood
- Tear duct surgery
- Laser surgery to remove abnormal blood vessels
- Antiviral drops that will help reduce viral infection, and
- Antibiotic drops that minimise bacterial infection
Additionally, you can provide an eye patch to protect the affected eye from further damage during the healing period of the blood in the eye. Some ways that can assist in answering how to treat blood clot in eye naturally are as follows:
- Take eye drops and prescribed medication as instructed by the doctor
- Always keep a blood pressure monitor at hand to check blood pressure levels.
- Do not perform extreme physical activity
- Clean and replace contact lenses regularly
- Refrain from sleeping with contact lenses
- Get regular eye and vision tests done
- Propping the head up on a pillow to drain the eye
- Get as much rest as possible
Conclusion
The information regarding what is blood in the eye, the reasons and symptoms of blood clotting, and the best solutions that can answer how to treat broken blood vessels in the eye, have been provided above. The information discussed above can help reduce any chances of damage to the affected eye and ensure that vision is protected. So here are a few of the most commonly asked questions regarding blood in the eye.