Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

Definition:  Blood underneath the conjunctiva.  May be mild involving only a sector of the conjunctiva, or a full 360 degrees of the globe.  

Signs/Symptoms:  

• Red eye (striking deep flat blood red conjunctiva not involving the cornea)

• Mild irritation

• May be asymptomatic

Differential Diagnosis:  

• Conjunctivitis

• Conjunctival trauma

• Globe trauma from rupture

Causes:  

• Severe coughing or sneezing

• Elevated blood pressure

• Trauma

• Valsalva

• Bleeding disorder

Evaluation:  

• History:

  • Bleeding problems

  • Medications (aspirin)

• Visual acuity

• Blood pressure

• If chronic check:

  • Clotting factors

  • CBC

  • Platelets

Treatment: 

• None 

• May use artificial tears 4 times a day for mild irritation.  

• Discontinue or discourage use of aspirin or NSAIDs

Prognosis: 

• Good

• Clears spontaneously

• Return only if recurs or does not resolve. 

This section provided by CAPT Robert B. North, Jr., MC, USN

Home  ·  Military Medicine  ·  Sick Call  ·  Basic Exams  ·  Medical Procedures  ·  Lab and X-ray  ·  The Pharmacy  ·  The Library  ·  Equipment  ·  Patient Transport  ·  Medical Force Protection  ·  Operational Safety  ·  Operational Settings  ·  Special Operations  ·  Humanitarian Missions  ·  Instructions/Orders  ·  Other Agencies  ·  Video Gallery  ·  Forms  ·  Web Links  ·  Acknowledgements  ·  Help  ·  Feedback

Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited.

*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates, LLC.  It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. The medical information presented was reviewed and felt to be accurate in 2001. Medical knowledge and practice methods may have changed since that time. Some links may no longer be active. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

© 2015, Brookside Associates, LLC. All rights reserved

Other Brookside Products