You could be unaware until someone points out you have a red spot in the eye. Here is what it says about your health.
It could be disturbing to see a red spot right on your eye. However, the good news is it’s rarely a medical emergency. The usual cause of a red spot on the eye is an accumulation of blood under the conjunctiva due to a subconjunctival hemorrhage.
The conjunctiva, also known as the sclera is the white part of the eye. It is a transparent membrane that covers the eye surface which contains capillaries that can break or leak after an abrupt blood pressure increase.
Notwithstanding how it looks, you probably would not feel a thing. It is commonly harmless and heals on its own according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
What Causes Red Spot on the Eye?
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a typical cause of a red spot on the eye. According to Healthline, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is when one or more tiny blood vessels in your eye have broken and leaked. This could occur after an unexpected cough or a sneeze.
The capillaries of the eye are fragile which can easily be broken by a simple and temporary spike in pressure. Common causes of a red spot on the eye include:
- heavy lifting
- eye injury
- moving your bowels
- childbirth
- hard rubbing of the eye
- irritation caused by contact lens
- sneezing
- coughing
- vomiting
Ironically, high blood pressure per se is an uncommon cause of red spots in the eye.
Unusual causes of subconjunctival hemorrhages include:
How to Treat Red Spot in the Eye
Subconjunctival hemorrhages do not normally demand treatment. In a few weeks, the red spot could heal itself. If bothered with irritation or dryness, artificial tears that may be bought in drug stores usually ease the discomfort. A doctor-prescribed antibiotic eye drop may also be used to treat a red spot caused by a bacterial infection.
Take note that when the red spot slowly changes color from red to yellow or orange, it is a sign of healing. Like a bruise, it will gradually fade over time.
Here are some home remedies you can try to relieve discomfort and expedite healing:
- Cold compress to decrease swelling
- Warm compress to ease irritation
- Avoiding contact lens till the eye completely heals
- Use artificial tears to diminish dryness
- Avoiding rubbing the eyes
If you experience no other symptoms aside from the red spot on your eye, you probably don’t need medical help. However, if any of these happens, you might need further help from your doctor.
- No improvement of red spot after two weeks
- Vision becomes blurry
- Eye discharge
- Bruising around the eye
- Unusual headache
- Red spots recur too often with no apparent reason.
If you have a history of hypertension, bleeding, or diabetes, have a full eye exam at least once every year and monitor any new or worsening symptoms immediately. Having multiple subconjunctival hemorrhages may be an indication of a different underlying medical condition, such as conjunctival amyloidosis. Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms persist.
