Why Do I Have Blood in My Eye?

A blood spot in your eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage) is caused by a tiny blood vessel breaking just beneath the clear surface of the eye (conjunctiva). You will see a speck of redness on the white of the eye or a larger area of visible blood.

Sometimes, people wake up with this blood spot in the eye. While it can look scary, it is rarely an emergency and will get better on its own without treatment.

This article will go over the causes and symptoms of a blood spot in the eye. You will also learn when to see a provider about a blood spot in your eye that’s not getting better.

Signs of a Blood Spot in the Eye

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a blood-red discoloration on the white of the eye. Over time, the redness will turn greenish or yellowish, like a bruise. 

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is usually painless, although some people may experience a scratchy sensation in the eye. The symptoms will usually disappear within two weeks.

If the leak is little, a subconjunctival hemorrhage may only cause a small area of redness or even a tiny red speck in the eye.

If there is more leakage, the entire white of the eye may look red. In some cases, the affected tissues bulge out.

Blood in the Eye Causes

A subconjunctival hemorrhage can have several causes, including injuries to the eye, medical conditions, or sudden, forceful changes to the blood pressure.

Some of the potential causes of blood in the eye include:

• Eye trauma (injury)
• Forceful coughing, sneezing, or vomiting
• Excessive eye rubbing
• Heavy lifting
• Straining from constipation
• Severe high blood pressure
• Extreme changes in atmospheric pressure
• Certain conjunctival eye infections
• Use of blood thinners like warfarin
• Bleeding disorders, like hemophilia
• Laser eye surgery
• Pressure changes as newborns pass through the birth canal during childbirth
• A warning sign for a serious underlying medical condition like diabetes, leukemia, or sickle cell disease
  

Diagnosing Blood in the Eye

An eye health provider (optometrist or an ophthalmologist) can do an eye exam to find out what caused the blood in your eye. They will ask you about your medical history and the medications you take. They will also check your blood pressure.

They may do some tests to find out what is causing blood in your eye, including:

• Slit-lamp exam: Uses bright light directed into the eye to check for injury or disease
• Ocular tonometry: Measures the pressure inside the eyes
• Blood tests: Factor VIII and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) to check for bleeding disorders

Self-Care for Blood Spot in Eye

Most blood spots in the eye get better on their own within two weeks. A blood spot in your eye usually does not need medical treatment. 

However, you might want to apply a warm compress to your eye as an at-home treatment to help heal a blood spot in your eye.

If you have eye irritation or scratchiness, it can help to use some over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears.

Blood in the Eye: When to Worry

Blood in your eye can be a sign of something more serious. See a healthcare provider if you have any of the following:

• Blood in your eye that has lasted longer than three weeks
• Blood in your eye with eye pain
• Vision loss, including blurring and light sensitivity
• Recurring eye bleeding

Even though the appearance of blood in your eye can be disturbing, it's usually no cause for alarm, especially if you don't have any pain or vision changes.

However, if you experience blood in your eye more than twice a year, get a full checkup to see if there are any medical conditions causing the problem.

Summary

Bleeding in the white of the eye is caused by a broken blood vessel.

Eye injury, severe high blood pressure, forceful sneezing or coughing, eye infections, certain medications, or bleeding disorders can cause blood spots in your eye.

It is not usually an emergency and just causes a little blood-red discoloration that usually gets better on its own within two weeks. If it doesn’t, see your provider. They can figure out what the cause is and help you get the best treatment. 

Even though the appearance of blood in your eye can be disturbing, it's usually no cause for alarm, especially if you don't have any pain or vision changes.

However, if you experience a subconjunctival hemorrhage more than twice a year, you should get a full checkup to see if there are any medical conditions contributing to the recurrence.