Eye Problems Archives

treatment for broken blood vessels in the eye

I was recently quite ill (vomiting violently) all of which resulted in a broken blood vessel in the white of my eye. I read your archives etc. and was releived to find this is a common non servious affliction! However, several people asked for a treatment and none was given. I too am interested in quickly removing the hideous blood from my eye! I am to have my picture taken for a news article next week, and don't want to scare anyone. What can I do!!! It seems to be getting worse each day rather than better...O.K. it has only been two days, but I'm beginning to panic! Please send help right away!!

Follow Ups:

• Re: treatment for broken blood vessels in the eye Travis Bickle 00:49:23 12/28/00 (0)
• Re: treatment for broken blood vessels in the eye (Archive.) Walt Stoll 07:10:29 12/18/00 (0)
• Re: treatment for broken blood vessels in the eye PJ 23:59:59 12/16/00 (0)

In Reply to: treatment for broken blood vessels in the eye posted by Lisa on December 16, 2000 at 03:19:03:

Lisa, unfortunately there really isn't a quick "fix" for a subconjunctival hemorrage (not uncommon after violent coughing, sneezing, or vomiting episodes). The reason it is looking worse is because the small amount of blood that has hemorrhaged is trapped between the sclera and the conjuntiva and will appear to "spread" when actually movement and the forces of gravity will make the blood spread. Just like a bruise, the tissue will reabsorb the blood. Unfortunately, in your case it may not be quick enough. They usually take 7-10 days to disappear There's not really any meds to speed these things up. Generally, it's better NOT to use vasoconstrictors (ie. Visine, Opcon-A, or anything that "gets the red out") as they constrict the blood vessels thereby slowing down the reabsorption process. Hope yours clears quickly. PJ (retired Optometrist)

In Reply to: treatment for broken blood vessels in the eye posted by Lisa on December 16, 2000 at 03:19:03:

Hi, Lisa.

Listen to PJ (Thanks, PJ!). He is right on and you can expect about 6 weeks until all of the eye looks normal. This is a wonderful opportunity to watch the evolution of a bruise (This is exactly the same mechanism.) out there where skin doesn't get in the way of observation.

Walt

In Reply to: treatment for broken blood vessels in the eye posted by Lisa on December 16, 2000 at 03:19:03:

Thanks for this insight! This just happend to me and I
was wondering what to expect now that half of my eye is
blood red.

I will now stop using my Visine!