The human eye is covered on the outside by a thin, transparent tissue called the conjunctiva. It is a mucous membrane with many thin blood vessels. If the blood vessels dilate for any reason, the eye may become red, which can be seen from the outside. But there are also times when they don't just dilate, but burst.
When blood enters the space between the conjunctiva and the sclera (the proteinous membrane of the eye), it looks as if the eye is completely or partially flooded with blood. This gives a frightening impression. However, the hemorrhage itself does not cause pain or visual impairment. A person may feel nothing at all and carry on with his daily routine until those around him tell him what his eyes look like, or until he looks at himself in a mirror.However, a burst vessel can cause pain. In this case, you should definitely visit a doctor.
A red spot in the eye due to pressure can dissolve over a period of time. But even if such a hemorrhage did not cause any health consequences, it is still unpleasant. What if you have to speak in front of an audience, go on a romantic date or meet with business partners? Not surprisingly, many people are worried about the question: if a blood vessel bursts in the eye, what drops will help?
Why is a blood vessel burst in your eye?
Blood vessels in the conjunctiva are very thin, fragile. There are quite a few reasons why eye vessels can burst. These are:
- A sharp increase in blood pressure – usually in this case, single vessels burst, so the hemorrhage will be pinpointed;
- Severe vomiting;
- Acute onset of glaucoma, an eye disease characterized by increased intraocular pressure;
- inflammatory eye diseases – bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis;
- Sudden physical activity, such as lifting a lot of weight;
- Prolonged use of medications that thin the blood;
- Injuries – bruises, ingestion of foreign objects in the eye;
- CIomplications after ophthalmic surgery.
The likelihood that the vessels in the eye may burst increases against the background of certain age-related and chronic diseases. For example, atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus make the walls of the vessels thinner and tear easily.
Vitamin deficiencies can also cause vascular walls to thin and tear more easily with increased blood pressure or increased physical activity.
Be sure to see an ophthalmologist
The most common type of hemorrhage caused by burst vessels is hypospagma, which is the outpouring of blood into the space between the conjunctiva and the sclera. This is the phenomenon that most often occurs due to increased physical exertion or due to increased pressure. Most often it goes away on its own, but you should still consult an ophthalmologist, especially since you will not be able to identify the nature of the hemorrhage without examination by a specialist.
The fact is that a massive hemorrhage can be a sign of a much more serious problem. Increased arterial or intraocular pressure, retinal tears or detachment, which can be caused by, for example, a strong blow to the head, can burst iris or ciliary body vessels, can cause hemorrhage into the retina. All of this can lead to loss of vision, so an ophthalmologist should always perform examinations and determine the nature of the damage and its severity. In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary, such as removal of blood from the anterior chamber or vitreous body, or laser photocoagulation of the retina, aimed at removing the rupture.
A specialist should be seen as soon as possible if:
- The hemorrhage is accompanied by painful sensations;
- Vessels burst not only in the eye (for example, a hemorrhage in the eye is accompanied by bleeding of the gums);
- Vessels burst in both eyes.
If you are taking blood thinners and you have a burst blood vessel in your eye, you should also see a doctor.
How to get rid of redness in the eye if you have burst blood vessels
With hypospasm, usually no special treatment is required. When blood is leaking into the space between the conjunctiva and the sclera, most often it is enough just to wait for the red spot to dissolve. Unfortunately, this takes several days, and there are no remedies that give instant effect and help get rid of the hemorrhage immediately.
However, it is still necessary to consult an ophthalmologist. The fact that burst blood vessels may indicate a variety of diseases, as well as the fact that you need to change your lifestyle. The specialist will conduct an examination and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.
The ophthalmologist may recommend eye drops or other medications that have a good resolving effect. The dosage is determined for each patient individually and usually amounts to 1-2 drops 2-4 times a day for 10-15 days.
Usually a red spot in the eye completely resolves within about 7-10 days. But on the first or second day after you notice the hemorrhage, you may find that its area will increase. This is usually not caused by the fact that the hemorrhage is ongoing. Simply the blood caught between the conjunctiva and the sclera redistributes itself, with the thickness of the clot decreasing and the area increasing. After a while, the growth of the spot will stop, it will gradually become smaller.
What shouldn't you do if a blood vessel bursts in the eye
First of all, you can not do self-treatment. You should not go to the pharmacy and consult a pharmacist on what drops you need if the vessel burst. Not only do you run the risk of choosing an ineffective product, but also of worsening the condition of your eyes. Whether you need eye drops, and if so, what kind and how much to put them in - all this should be discussed with an ophthalmologist. For questions related to the wearing of contact lenses, too, you need to consult a specialist.
Also, if you have a burst vessel in your eye, you should not:
- Touch your eye, much less rub it – this can make the bleeding worse;
- Rinse your eye – this can also cause more bleeding;
- Continuing to wear contact lenses – you may have to take them off;
- Make warm lotions, such as tea or herbal decoctions;
- Use herbal remedies from the Internet.
Preventing burst blood vessels
To reduce the likelihood that one day you will face the problem of red eyes due to a burst vessel, you can take the following preventive measures:
- Try to avoid increased physical activity. If you participate in sports or fitness, follow the recommendations of a trainer or instructor to avoid overexertion.
- Take care of your health and promptly treat diseases, the consequences of which can be bleeding in the eye.
More attention should be paid to nutrition. Many foods contain vitamins which can improve blood circulation in the eye. It is especially important to consume foods that contain P vitamins. In combination with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), they can reduce the permeability and fragility of blood vessels and improve their elasticity. Such vitamins are found, for example, in apricots, cherries, rose hips, tomatoes, raspberries. They are also found in dark chocolate with at least 75% cocoa. If for any reason you have no possibility or desire to include these products 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.
