A bright red spot appearing suddenly on the white part of your eye can be quite startling. This often prompts concern about its cause, particularly its link to stress. Understanding what happens when an eye blood vessel “pops” and what factors contribute can help alleviate worry. This article explores this phenomenon and its connection to everyday pressures.
Understanding a “Popped” Eye Blood Vessel
The medical term for a “popped” eye blood vessel is a subconjunctival hemorrhage. This condition occurs when a tiny, fragile blood vessel just beneath the conjunctiva breaks. The conjunctiva is a thin, clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye, known as the sclera, and the inside of the eyelids. When a vessel ruptures, blood becomes trapped under this transparent layer, making the white part of the eye appear bright red.
Despite its alarming appearance, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is typically harmless. The blood does not enter the eye itself, which is why vision remains unaffected. Because there are few nerve endings in the conjunctiva, the condition usually causes no pain or discomfort, though some individuals might feel a mild scratchiness.
Stress and Other Causes
While stress itself does not directly cause an eye blood vessel to pop, it can contribute indirectly to behaviors or responses that do. Prolonged stress can lead to temporary increases in blood pressure, which can strain delicate capillaries. Stress can also manifest as habits like vigorous eye rubbing due to fatigue or anxiety, or lead to straining during activities such as intense coughing or vomiting. These actions can exert enough pressure to rupture a superficial blood vessel.
Several other common activities and conditions can also lead to a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Straining from coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or even during bowel movements can increase venous pressure in the head, causing small vessels to break. Direct trauma to the eye, such as a poke or vigorous rubbing, is another frequent cause. Certain medications, particularly blood thinners like aspirin or warfarin, can increase the likelihood of bleeding, making these hemorrhages more common or larger.
Less commonly, underlying medical conditions may contribute to recurrent or unusually large subconjunctival hemorrhages. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can weaken vessel walls over time, making them more susceptible to rupture. Bleeding disorders that impair the blood’s clotting ability can also increase the risk. While often benign, persistent occurrences without clear cause warrant further investigation by a healthcare professional.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Most subconjunctival hemorrhages are benign and resolve on their own without treatment. The body naturally reabsorbs the trapped blood, much like a bruise fading on the skin. This process typically takes one to two weeks, during which the red patch may change color from bright red to orange or yellow as it heals. No eye drops or specific interventions are needed for healing.
However, certain signs warrant prompt medical evaluation by an eye doctor. You should seek attention if the hemorrhage is accompanied by eye pain, changes in vision such as blurriness or double vision, or a complete loss of vision. Recurrent episodes that occur without an obvious cause, or if the hemorrhage is very large and spreads to cover a significant portion of the eye, should also be assessed. If the hemorrhage resulted from significant trauma to the eye or appears alongside other concerning symptoms like severe headache, nausea, or weakness, medical consultation is advised.