The worst part of a burst blood vessel in the eye is that it leaves you with a dramatic, unattractive redness that may make you feel insecure or embarrassed. Should your vision change in any way, it is key to report this information to an eye specialist as, sometimes, burst blood vessels can be problematic based on what caused them and how severe the burst was.
Eye Injury
This condition is not painful, and typically develops after blunt trauma to the eye. In most cases, treatment is not needed for what is identified as a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Blood vessels are fragile and their walls can easily break. Causes of blood vessel bursts in the eyes include sneezing, coughing, vomiting, crying, rubbing your eyes, or snagging your eyes on an object or fabric.
If you have noticed the appearance of blood in your eye a week or so after the initial injury or blood vessel burst, it may be advisable for you to seek medical attention from an eye specialist to ensure you do not have a condition known as hyphema, which can be very severe and could affect your vision long-term. Broken blood vessels can be somewhat prevented if you wear proper eye protection during certain sports or goggles during any work that has flying objects or dust or very bright sunlight involved.
High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure, this can cause problems to the retina’s blood vessels, and hinder the retina’s function. This hindering places lots of strain on the optic nerve, which then leads to sight problems and vision loss. This condition is called hypertensive retinopathy (HR).
Prolonged high blood pressure, or hypertension, is the main cause and it’s because the force of the blood against your arteries is way too high and the blood pumps out of the heart, into the arteries in between heartbeats and the blood moves through the entire body, even affecting the eyes.
To prevent high blood pressure, stick to a diet high in fruits and vegetables to lower blood pressure. This will prevent burst blood vessels and other eye problems. Regular exercise and a limited salt and caffeine intake will also help lower your blood pressure.
Blood Thinners
There are two main types of blood thinners. Anticoagulants work on chemical reactions in your body to lengthen the time it takes to form a blood clot. Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot.
Blood thinners are known to sometimes cause redness to the eye and burst blood vessels in the skin and eyes. But if you are taking aspirin or blood thinners and notice these symptoms, do not stop taking them unless you have been told to do so by your doctor.
Cataract Surgery
For those who have just undergone cataract surgery, don’t be anxious if your vision seems cloudy after you remove the eye shield or if you start to see distortions or waves. It should only last an hour. Along with these surprising vision side effects, the patient may also experience red and blood shot eyes because blood vessels may have burst on the surface of your eye during surgery. The redness will disappear as soon as your eyes are finished healing in a matter of days.
Learn More About Burst Blood Vessels Today
Burst blood vessels usually look worse than they are and can occur for a number of different reasons including light eye injuries, having high blood pressure, taking blood thinners, or recovering from cataract surgery. Eye drops or cold compresses are very useful, simple treatments to alleviate eye redness and speed up the disappearance of your burst blood vessel as lubrication and cold soothe the eye.
If your eyes remain red for an uncomfortable amount of time after a burst blood vessel or if you experience any vision changes or pain of any kind, contact an eye professional such as the professionals at Advanced Eye Medical.