Subconjunctival hemorrhage
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ICD-10 | H11.3 |
---|---|
ICD-9 | 372.72 |
A subconjunctival hemorrhage (or subconjunctival haemorrhage) is bleeding underneath the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva contains many small, fragile blood vessels that are easily ruptured or broken. When this happens, blood is leaked into the space between the conjunctiva and sclera.
Whereas a bruise typically appears black or blue underneath the skin, a subconjunctival hemorrhage initially appears bright red underneath the transparent conjunctiva. Later the hemorrhage may spread and become green or yellow, like a bruise. Usually this disappears within 2 weeks. [1]
Although its appearance may be alarming, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is generally a painless and harmless condition; however, it may be associated with high blood pressure, or trauma to the eye.
[edit] Causes
- Minor eye trauma
- Spontaneously with increased venous pressure
-
- Streneuous Exercising
- Coughing
- Touching/widening eyes
- Sneezing
- Vomiting, particularly forced vomiting as seen in bulimia nervosa
- Straining
- Severe alcohol intoxication, leading to raised blood pressure
- Blood dyscrasia (rare)
- Severe hypertension
- LASIK
- Blood thinners, such as ginger, capsaicin, ginseng, garlic, aspirin, or Herba if taken in high doses or combined. These can also make the vessels in the eye more susceptible to the pressure causes listed above.
Subconjunctival hemorrhages in infants may be associated with scurvy (a vitamin C deficiency)[2],[3], abuse or traumatic asphyxia syndrome [4].
[edit] Treatment and management
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is typically a self-limiting condition that requires no treatment in the absence of infection or significant trauma. The elective use of aspirin and NSAIDs is typically discouraged.
A common symptom of a subconjunctival hemorrhage, itchy eyes, is often treated by appling eye drops or artificial tears to the affected eye(s).
[edit] External links
eyelid, lacrimal system and orbit: Stye - Chalazion - Blepharitis - Entropion - Ectropion - Lagophthalmos - Blepharochalasis - Ptosis - Xanthelasma
conjunctiva: Conjunctivitis - Pterygium - Subconjunctival hemorrhage
sclera, cornea, iris and ciliary body: Scleritis - Keratitis - Corneal ulcer - Snow blindness - Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy - Fuchs' dystrophy - Keratoconus - Keratoconjunctivitis sicca - Iritis - Uveitis
lens: Cataract
choroid and retina: Retinal detachment - Retinoschisis - Hypertensive retinopathy - Diabetic retinopathy - Retinopathy - Retinopathy of prematurity - Macular degeneration - Retinitis pigmentosa - Macular edema
ocular muscles, binocular movement, accommodation and refraction: Strabismus - Ophthalmoparesis - Progressive external ophthalmoplegia - Esotropia - Exotropia - Refractive error - Hyperopia - Myopia - Astigmatism - Anisometropia - Presbyopia
Visual disturbances and blindness: Amblyopia - Leber's congenital amaurosis - Scotoma - Color blindness - Achromatopsia - Nyctalopia - Blindness
Commonly associated infectious diseases: Trachoma Onchocerciasis
Other: Glaucoma - Floater - Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy - Red eye - Argyll Robertson pupil - Keratomycosis - Xerophthalmia - Aniridia