Ocular effusions are also known in medicine by the name of conjunctival hemorrhage or hyposphagmas. It is a fairly common pathology that appears with the rupture of one or more blood vessels of the sclera. 

The main manifestation of a effusion in the eye is a red spot that is caused by the accumulation of blood in the anterior part of the ocular structure.

The blood in the eye can be easily seen with the naked eye, it does not usually come out and tampoco usually causes vision problems. The hemorrhage in the eye usually disappears over the days as long as it is not associated with other diseases. 

En Área Oftalmológica Avanzada We explain what an eye effusion is, what its causes are and how to treat it. Keep reading!

What is the ocular conjunctiva?

La conjunctiva eyepiece is the transparent membrane that covers the eclerotic, that is, the white part of the eye.

We could define the bulbar conjunctiva as a very fine and elastic fabric that protects the eyes from external agents, becoming an important immunological protection for the eyeball.

Likewise, the conjunctiva is also involved in the formation of tears, which is why it lubricates the corneal area so that it is always moist.

Why do eye spills occur?

Many people wonder the reason why hyposphagmas appear, and the truth is that the causes for which a effusion can appear in the eye are very varied.

A spill originates when that small and delicate blood vessels which are in the conjunctiva Of the eye (under the white part) they break and they spill blood in the eye causing its redness.

As a general rule, this is due to a sudden increase in blood pressure of the patient, which may be accompanied by strong sneezing and a lot of coughing.

The trauma or even rub eyes vigorously they can also be triggers for eye spills.

Other possible causes of an eye spill

Other less common causes, but equally associated with the formation of a effusion in the eye, are:

• Problems of Hypertension, although it is not usually the usual.
• eye trauma. We don't have to suffer very strong blow so that the blood vessels break and there is a spill. Sometimes small traumas also provoke its appearance.
• Pharmaceutical products that alter blood coagulation.
• Despite not being usual, there can also be cases of suffering from d.
• Surgeries Of the eye.
• Infections viral
• Diseases hematological

Now that you know the causes of eye spills, let's see what you should do in the event that you have a spill in your eye.

What to do in case of an eye spill?

Little can be done in case of eye spill. In fact, it's best do nothing and let it go away little by little. However, we do have to be vigilant when eye spills are frequent.

If you suffer a spill in the eye, it is appropriate to visit the ophthalmologist to examine the bulbar conjunctiva and determine the cause of the ocular effusion.

You should also note that this anomaly in newborn it is associated with an increase in blood pressure during labor and there is no reason to be alarmed. In any case, it is still important for the patient to see an ophthalmologist.

What if I have a spill in my left eye and a headache?

Although subconjunctival hemorrhages are not dangerous or an urgent reason to go to the ophthalmologist, there are exceptions.

If the effusions in the left eye are habitually repeated The causes may be associated with heart problems or high blood pressure. In the event that the patient presents these symptoms, it is essential to visit the family doctor to check the heart health as soon as possible.

Another situation where it is important to go to a specialist is when we suffer a discharge in the left or right eye accompanied by a severe headache in that area. The reason for this situation is that there is a close relationship between the eyes and the head, and it is common for a problem in the eyes to spread to the head and vice versa.

Symptoms of an eye spill

Ocular effusions are asymptomatic pathologies, that is, do not have any other symptoms beyond the formation of a red spot on the white of the eye. Therefore, any spill of this type should not cause pain, irritation, burning or discomfort in vision.

Similarly, although the concentrated blood is clearly seen in the eye, this fluid does not come out, since it is trapped between the sclera and the bulbar conjunctiva. If the patient were to bleed, it is necessary go immediately to the ophthalmologist to determine the cause of it, since spills in the eye do not cause external bleeding.

Although the accumulation of blood in the eye can be alarming, it is important to note that they do not represent a risk to visual health, that is, they are harmless.

Treatment of eye effusions

Before the formation of a subconjunctival hemorrhage, it is inevitable to wonder how to cure it as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, there are no treatments to attend to this condition, since the effusions in the eye heal by themselves progressively and over the days.

Now, there are a series of actions that we can carry out to alleviate the discomfort of an eye effusion:

• Artificial tears to soothe the eyes and keep them hydrated.
• If you are taking aspirins or anticoagulants, you should continue taking them until your doctor tells you otherwise.
• Finally, don't rub your eyes abruptly to avoid rebleeding. If this happens, we recommend a visit with the ophthalmologist.

How long does it take to heal an eye spill?

Spills in the eyes They usually last between 8 and 10 days. before all the blood is reabsorbed, however, this depends on the person and how many blood vessels have ruptured in the bulbar conjunctiva. 

Depending on the size of the eye effusion, it may take more or less time to heal. When the effusion in the eye is small can be reabsorbed week later of its formation, on the other hand, when the ocular effusion is large or happens frequently it may take time to heal up to a month. 

In the presence of a conjunctival hemorrhage, it is best to be patient and let the blood drain by itself until it disappears.

As it heals, it is completely normal for the white part of the eye to turn yellow color, and although there is no treatment, we strongly recommend not rubbing the affected eye to prevent more blood vessels from breaking and the eye effusion from enlarging or recurring.

When this anomaly derives from a Trauma, it is necessary to go to the ophthalmologist to check if there is any damage to the structure of the eye. In case there is collateral damage, we will prescribe the appropriate treatment in each case.

If you have suffered an eye trauma it is important to take into account:

• Try not to touch your eye.
• Do not exert pressure.
• Do not self-medicate.
• Placing a gauze pad or patch over the eye in case there is blood bleeding to the outside.

How to prevent an eye spill

Eye effusions cannot be prevented, much less are there symptoms that indicate that they are going to occur. However, we can take actions that help us take care of the health of our eyes to prevent us from having eye spills, some of them are:

• Avoid sleeping on the left side of the body, as this posture compresses the heart and can increase blood pressure.
• Measure blood pressure every day in case of suffering from hypertension or diabetes mellitus.
• Avoid factors that increase blood pressure such as tobacco or alcoholic beverages.
• Don't rub your eyes abruptly.

Remember that if you suffer from subconjunctival hemorrhages often, you should go to a specialist team such as Área Oftalmológica Avanzada to examine your visual health.