A broken blood vessel in the eye, known medically as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, almost always looks far worse than it actually is. The bright red patch on the white of your eye needs no treatment in most cases. Your body reabsorbs the trapped blood on its own, typically within one to three weeks.
That said, looking in the mirror and seeing a vivid red blotch can be alarming. Here’s what’s actually happening, what you can do to stay comfortable while it heals, and how to tell the difference between a harmless burst vessel and something that needs attention.
Why It Happens
The white of your eye is covered by a thin, transparent membrane called the conjunctiva. Tiny blood vessels run through this membrane, and when one of them breaks, blood leaks into the space between the membrane and the eye’s surface. Because the blood has nowhere to drain, it pools into a flat, bright red patch that can cover a small spot or spread across most of the white.
Common triggers include:
- Coughing or sneezing, especially hard or prolonged fits
- Straining, whether from heavy lifting, pushing, bending forward, or bearing down on the toilet
- Vomiting
- Rubbing your eye too hard
- Minor bumps or pokes to the eye
- Wearing contact lenses
All of these briefly spike pressure in the small veins around the eye, which can be enough to rupture a fragile capillary. Sometimes there’s no obvious trigger at all. You may wake up, look in the mirror, and simply notice it.
What to Do While It Heals
There is no way to speed up the healing process. The blood has to be reabsorbed naturally, and that takes anywhere from a few days to about two or three weeks depending on the size of the hemorrhage. During that time, the red patch often shifts color, turning yellow or green as your body breaks down the trapped blood, similar to a bruise fading on your skin.
For comfort, you can use over-the-counter artificial tears to relieve any mild scratchiness or itching. That’s the main home remedy, and it’s the one the Mayo Clinic recommends. Avoid rubbing the affected eye, since friction can irritate the area or even cause rebleeding. If you wear contact lenses, give your eye a break and switch to glasses until the redness clears.
Do not use eye drops marketed as “redness relievers” (the kind that constrict blood vessels to make eyes look whiter). These won’t help with a subconjunctival hemorrhage and can cause rebound redness with repeated use. Plain lubricating drops are the better choice.
Medications That Raise Your Risk
Blood-thinning medications, including aspirin and prescription anticoagulants, make broken blood vessels in the eye more likely because they slow your blood’s ability to clot. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen have a similar, milder effect. Fish oil and vitamin E supplements can also thin the blood slightly.
If you’re on a blood thinner and notice recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages, mention it to your prescribing doctor. Don’t stop taking a prescribed medication on your own, but it’s worth a conversation about whether your dosage or monitoring schedule needs adjusting.
Signs That Need Medical Attention
A straightforward subconjunctival hemorrhage causes no pain and no vision changes. The eye looks dramatic, but it feels essentially normal, maybe with mild irritation at most. If your experience matches that description, you can safely wait it out.
You should get your eye evaluated if you notice any of the following:
- Pain in the eye, not just surface irritation but actual aching or sharp discomfort
- Any change in vision, including blurriness, double vision, or partial loss of sight
- Bleeding that followed significant trauma to the head or eye, not just a light bump
- Blood inside the colored part of the eye (the iris), which suggests bleeding in a deeper layer
- Discharge from the eye, which could point to infection
- Recurrent episodes, meaning it keeps happening every few weeks or months
An eye doctor can usually diagnose a subconjunctival hemorrhage just by looking at it. No special tests are needed for a typical case. If there’s concern about deeper injury or an underlying condition, they may check your blood pressure, order bloodwork to evaluate clotting, or examine the interior of the eye.
When It Keeps Coming Back
A single broken blood vessel is rarely a sign of anything serious. Recurrent episodes are a different story. Repeated subconjunctival hemorrhages can signal uncontrolled high blood pressure, a bleeding or clotting disorder, or diabetes affecting the small blood vessels. If you’ve had three or more episodes in a year without an obvious trigger like a coughing illness, it’s worth getting screened for these conditions.
To reduce your chances of a repeat occurrence, manage chronic coughs or allergies that lead to forceful sneezing, avoid rubbing your eyes, and use proper lifting technique to minimize straining. If your eyes tend to be dry or irritated, regular use of artificial tears can keep the conjunctiva healthier and less prone to small vessel damage.