Broken vein in the eye

definition

There are tiny blood vessels throughout the body that supply the cells. The smaller a blood vessel, the thinner the wall layers are. These small blood vessels are also located in the eye.

Pressure on the vessels from inside or outside can cause them to burst. In contrast to other parts of the body, there is no bruise on the eye, instead the bleeding can be seen directly. This is due to the white color of the eyeball and the very thin horny layer. These small hemorrhages are usually just as safe as a bruise in other parts of the body, although it can look terrifying to the eye.

The reasons

The cause of a broken vein in the eye is an increased force acting on the blood vessel. This can be caused by high blood pressure or an accident.

High blood pressure is especially a problem if it occurs suddenly and the vessels are not used to the pressure. This happens, for example, with severe coughing attacks, intense exertion or a stroke.

Various underlying diseases make the blood vessels more sensitive to such pressures. Vascular diseases, diabetes and alcoholism are possible here.

Stroke as a possible cause

A stroke can result from a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. There is no longer enough blood and therefore not enough oxygen to reach the downstream areas of the brain through the affected area. These brain areas send a signal to the body that not enough oxygen is arriving. In order to transport more blood to these areas, the body increases the work of the heart and increases the blood pressure. The blood pressure can reach values ​​of over 200, while the normal textbook value is closer to 120. The vessels are not used to such pressures and particularly small vessels can tear as a result.

In most parts of the body this is not noticeable externally, but in the eye there is also a very small burst vessel through a strong red coloration of the white eye areas. Unlike other consequences of a stroke, this can also happen on both sides, since it is not a nerve failure but a consequence of the high blood pressure that the body develops secondarily.

A stroke is a time-sensitive emergency that must be treated immediately. The broken vein in the eye does not require treatment here.

You can find more information on the topic here Stroke in the eye

High blood pressure as a possible cause

With persistent high blood pressure, vascular damage can occur over a longer or shorter period of time. The inner vessel wall becomes unstable. The smallest blood vessels consist only of this so-called endothelial layer and can therefore burst due to the increased pressure

Only permanent treatment of high blood pressure through a lifestyle change and pressure-lowering medication is suitable for prevention. Treatment of the eye is not required. Broken veins can also serve as a warning signal for high blood pressure.

Read more on the subject here High blood pressure.

Stress as a possible cause

For those affected, stress does not only mean psychological stress, but also stress for the body.

With constant stress, blood pressure rises, which can lead to broken veins both acutely and over a long period of time. The immune system and other systems are also thrown out of whack.

As a result of various control circuits in the body, damage to the vessel wall can subsequently occur and therefore small vessels can also tear. The ruptured vessel in the eye is not a major problem, but stress also affects other diseases and should be prevented or reduced if possible.

Find out more about the here Effects of Stress

Vomiting as a possible cause

With strong exertion, especially with an increase in pressure in the abdomen, small vessels in the eye can burst. In addition to vomiting, this also includes bowel movements, strong coughing or giving birth.

The physical exertion and the cramping of the muscles lead to a sudden increase in blood pressure and cramped facial muscles, which act on the eyes from the outside. Since a direct connection can also be seen here, the eye does not require treatment

Alcohol as a possible cause

Alcohol is one of the most common intentionally consumed poisons. If alcohol is consumed frequently, this poison damages the liver and blood vessels. Damaged or irritated blood vessels can be prone to rupture and this is particularly noticeable in the eyes. However, this does not mean that an alcoholic always has red eyes, nor does it mean that red eyes indicate a drinking problem.

Find out more about the here Consequences of alcohol

The accompanying symptoms

The broken veins in the eyes are usually a symptom of other diseases themselves.

With high blood pressure, other accompanying symptoms are a red face, ringing ears, and shortness of breath. Those affected also report shortness of breath or headaches and sometimes sweat heavily. However, some high blood pressure patients do not feel any of these symptoms as their body has gotten used to the high pressure.

If you have diarrhea or vomiting with reddened eyes, there is often also a fever and a general feeling of illness. Those affected may also report dizziness and cloudiness because of the water loss.

Strong coughing attacks, which lead to broken veins, are particularly evident in children with croup attacks. The children cough very suddenly and develop a high pressure, so that almost all Krupp children also have red eyes.

The children are also short of breath and are generally very weak. In most cases, those affected go to the doctor for other complaints and the broken veins are noted as a secondary finding.

Headache as an accompanying symptom

Usually, broken veins in the eye are painless and do not cause any further discomfort.

In the event of a headache, a doctor should be consulted, as a search for the cause must be initiated. Often the headache, like the red eyes, is an accompanying symptom of high blood pressure. Rest and sleep can help with mild pain, but high blood pressure should be checked for more severe pain.

more on the subject a headache can be read here.

Eye pain

A doctor should be consulted if there is pain in the eye. In most cases, it is not the simple broken vein, as this usually does not cause pain. A specialist should be visited, especially if visual disturbances are added to the eye pain. This can be an increased intraocular pressure, which, if left untreated, can cause permanent damage to the eye and vision. A possible inflammation of the eyes or the conjunctiva also requires treatment.

Find out more about the topic here Eye pain

What to do?

In the case of a burst vein without further complaints, no measures are necessary. If there is pain in the area of ​​the eyes or the entire head with burst veins, a doctor should be examined.

The red spot in the eye is the same as a bruise on the knee. The healing takes a few days and cannot really be accelerated. The vessel has to heal in peace and the blood that has leaked out is gradually broken down. If the cause of frequent ruptures in blood vessels in the eye is high blood pressure, lowering the blood pressure with medication can prevent further vascular damage.

If there is a local cause, such as dry, sensitive eyes, eye drops can be used to moisten the skin. To support the healing process, those affected should take care of their eyes and not spend too much time in front of the computer or television, as this is eye strain.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can be used to relieve headaches. However, this should not be taken for more than three days without medical advice.

Which eye drops can help?

Usually no treatment is necessary if a vein in the eye has burst. Eye drops with heparin can be used to help break down the blood that has leaked out, as this locally dissolves blood clots.

Other eye drops are more likely to target the cause of the small bleeding. There are eye drops for purely moisturizing the eyes, anti-inflammatory drops and also antibiotic drops. Which preparation is the right one should be discussed with the family doctor or ophthalmologist.

Read more on the subject here Eye drop.

diagnosis

A burst vein without further symptoms does not normally need to be examined by a doctor. It is mostly a mere visual diagnosis. To rule out conjunctivitis as a differential diagnosis, the doctor asks about pain, burning, and pus in the eye. If the occurrence is repeated, causes such as high blood pressure should be monitored.

Additional diagnostics may include eye tests to check for other causes of red eyes and their consequences.

Duration of healing

Blood vessels themselves heal very quickly and the vessel wall is completely intact again within a very short time. What remains, however, is the blood that has leaked from the vessel. This has to be gradually broken down by the body. This process takes about as long as the fading of a bruise on other parts of the body. The hemoglobin (red blood pigment) is converted into other forms and transported away.

Overall, healing usually only takes a few days to weeks.