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Subconjunctival bleeding
Other names	Subconjunctival hemorrhage, subconjunctival haemorrhage, hyposphagma
Subconjunctival hemorrhage causing red coloration as result of ruptured blood vessel in the eye.
Specialty	Ophthalmology

Subconjunctival bleeding, also known as subconjunctival hemorrhage, is a medical condition in which small blood vessels rupture between the two outer layers of the eye, the conjunctiva and the sclera, causing a leakage of bright red blood.

Such a hemorrhage may be caused by a sudden or severe sneeze or cough, or due to high blood pressure or as a side effect of blood thinners such as aspirin or warfarin. It may also be caused by heavy lifting, vomiting, or even rubbing one's eyes too roughly. In other cases, it may result from being choked or from straining. Also, it can result as a minor post-operative complication in eye surgeries such as LASIK.

Signs and symptoms

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is usually asymptomatic, although occasionally the affected eye may feel dry, rough, or scratchy.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage initially appears bright-red underneath the transparent conjunctiva. Later, the hemorrhage may spread and become green or yellow as the hemoglobin is metabolized. It usually disappears within 2 weeks.

• (Top) A stress induced subconjunctival bleeding in the left eye one week after hemorrhaging.
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage viewed through slit lamp biomicroscope
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage in the left eye 48 hours after the onset of hemorrhaging.

Causes

• It may result from being choked
• Certain infections of the outside of the eye (conjunctivitis) where a virus or a bacteria weaken the walls of small blood vessels under the conjunctiva
• Mask squeeze from diving and not equalizing mask pressure during descent
• Eye trauma
• Coagulation disorder (congenital or acquired)
• Head injury
• Whooping cough or other extreme sneezing or coughing
• Severe hypertension
• LASIK
• Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (caused by Enterovirus 70 or Coxsackie A virus)
• Leptospirosis
• Ebola
• Increased venous pressure (e.g., extreme g-force, straining, vomiting, choking, or coughing) or from straining due to constipation
• Zygoma fracture (results in lateral subconjunctival hemorrhage)

Subconjunctival hemorrhages in infants may be associated with scurvy (a vitamin C deficiency), abuse or traumatic asphyxia syndrome.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is by visual inspection, by noting the typical finding of bright red discoloration confined to the white portion (sclera) of the eye.

Management

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is typically a self-limiting condition that requires no treatment unless there is evidence of an eye infection or there has been significant eye trauma. The elective use of aspirin and NSAIDs is typically discouraged. Artificial tears may be applied four to six times a day if the eye feels dry or scratchy .

References

1. ^ "Subconjunctival hemorrhage". PubMed Health on the National Institutes of Health website. May 1, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
2. ^ "Subconjunctival hemorrhage". Disease.com. n.d. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
3. Robert H. Grahamn (February 2009). "Subconjunctival Hemorrhage". emedicine.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
4. "Möller-Barlow disease". whonamedit.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
5. Bruce M. Rothschild (December 17, 2008). "Scurvy". eMedicine.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
6. Spitzer S. G; Luorno J.; Noël L. P. "Isolated subconjunctival hemorrhages in nonaccidental trauma". doi:10.1016/j.jaapos.2004.10.003. PMID 15729281. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
7. Robert H. Grahamn (February 2009). "Subconjunctival Hemorrhage". emedicine.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.

External links

• Disorders of conjunctiva