Intro

Call your ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery) if the subconjunctival hemorrhage does not get better within two weeks or if you have had multiple subconjunctival hemorrhages.

Also, call your ophthalmologist if you have a hemorrhage in both eyes at the same time or if the subconjunctival hemorrhage coincides with other symptoms of bleeding including easy bruising, bleeding gums, or both.

Go to your ophthalmologist immediately if you have a subconjunctival hemorrhage and you have

• pain associated with the hemorrhage,
• changes in vision (for example, blurry vision, double vision, difficulty seeing),
• history of a bleeding disorder,
• history of high blood pressure
• injury from trauma to the eye.

Self-Care at Home

Usually, no treatment is needed. Over-the-counter artificial tears can be applied to the eye if mild irritation is present.

The use of aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided

Outlook

This condition clears by itself within one to two weeks. Usually, recovery is complete, without any long-term problems, similar to a mild bruise under the skin. Like a bruise, a subconjunctival hemorrhage changes colors (often red to orange to yellow) as it heals. A skin bruise changes to various shades of green, black and blue as it heals, because the blood is being seen though skin. Because the conjunctiva is transparent, a subconjunctival hemorrhage never has these color characteristics.