The main causes and treatment of hemorrhage in the eye. Hemorrhage in the eye: what to do? Why does hemorrhage occur in the retina or vitreous body

Surely, many have come across a situation where, going to the mirror, they had to observe a hemorrhage in the eye. This phenomenon can cause panic and shock. Not everyone knows how to behave in such situations. The question immediately arises of what to do: try to cope with the problem at home or seek qualified help from an ophthalmologist.

Hemorrhage in the eye. Self-treatment or highly qualified help

Not only from heavy physical exertion, a hemorrhage in the eye can occur. The reasons may be very different. Quite often, this phenomenon can signal serious illnesses. Therefore, it is worth recommending that in the event of any eye injury, be sure to seek the advice of specialists.

Remember that it is not always possible to determine the severity of the injury by the degree of contusion. If you have already had a hemorrhage in the eye more than once, you already know what to do, but you should consult a doctor. It is also necessary to undergo an examination to identify the true causes of vascular fragility.

Causes of hemorrhage in the eye

The reasons can be very different, for example, trauma. Most often, hemorrhage in the eye occurs with contusion, that is, mechanical damage. It is not uncommon for a bruise to appear after damage to the bones of the skull or chest. Such injuries provoke intraocular hemorrhage.

Also, bruising can appear due to the weakness of blood vessels. As a rule, this is due to oncological or internal diseases. In any case, you should seek professional help to make a correct diagnosis, because you cannot do this on your own. Regardless of the cause of the hemorrhage, you should definitely contact an experienced specialist. He will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment. In no case should you even try to cope with such a serious disease on your own. Any wrong action can cause loss of vision. It is also worth remembering the timeliness of seeking help from a doctor. It also affects the likelihood of vision recovery.

Traumatic hemorrhage

If the bruise appeared due to an injury, you should act very quickly, because we are talking about the safety of vision. In some cases, vision deteriorates immediately, in others the processes occur slowly. It also happens that as a result of a severe contusion of the eye, vision disappears completely.

Degrees of eye contusion

In total, there are three degrees of contusion, depending on the severity. The first is characterized by the fact that the hemorrhage in the eye was insignificant. As a result of such damage, the eyeball was not damaged and vision did not deteriorate. Quite quickly, the traces of bruising disappear completely, and the person recovers.

The second degree of contusion is characterized by the fact that with such a hemorrhage in the eye, patients, as a rule, see only light. Their ability to distinguish objects clearly is impaired. With proper and timely treatment, there is a high probability of restoration of vision.

The third degree is the hardest. With such hemorrhages, vision is not restored. This is due to the fact that the eyeball is completely damaged and irreversible changes have occurred in the very structure of the eye tissues.

Non-traumatic hemorrhage in the eye

The eye is an organ that is richly supplied with blood and has an extensive network of blood vessels. Due to certain diseases, the elasticity and permeability of the walls of the eye vessels can change. Hemorrhage in the eye can be a symptom of diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, myopia, collagenosis. Also, bruising may indicate hematological diseases, blood clotting disorders, hypertension, anomalies of the eye vessels, retinal disease and intraocular tumors that compress blood vessels.

Symptoms

If we consider the symptoms of hemorrhage in the eye, then it is worth noting that it can be directly in the orbit, the anterior chamber of the eye, the vitreous body and the retina behind it. Symptoms depend on where the bruising occurs. In place, you can also determine the complications that will accompany a hemorrhage in the eye.

Types of hemorrhages in the eye

Orbital contusion refers to bleeding into the orbit. In this case, the bruise appears near the conjunctiva and eyelid skin. A skull fracture is evidenced by a bruise that appeared a day after the injury and in appearance resembles glasses on the skin near the eyelids. With a contusion of the eye orbit, the motor ability of the eye is disturbed, the eyeball protrudes, visual acuity decreases, and pictures split in two.

If a hemorrhage has occurred in the anterior chamber of the eye, it can be identified by a spot with black contours of a homogeneous structure.

If the head is in an upright position, then the blood stain will flow down. When placed horizontally, it will be distributed throughout the anterior chamber. As a rule, such a bruise resolves itself. In the case when it does not go away after ten days, it should be assumed that a cataract develops, the choroid becomes inflamed, or glaucoma begins.

Vitreous haemorrhage is a serious injury that requires medical attention as soon as possible. The spot in this case is located behind the lens. It can cause detachment of fiber, atrophy of the eyeball, deterioration or loss of vision. With such a bruise, flashes of light or "flies" may suddenly appear before the eyes.

Retinal hemorrhage is characterized by the appearance of a mesh that interferes with vision. With such a bruise, blurring of objects occurs, visual acuity decreases, the retina exfoliates, or a complete loss of vision occurs.

Diagnosis of hemorrhage in the eye

To find out the cause of the bruising, a series of examinations should be carried out. These include a fundus examination, a blood sugar test, and a urinalysis. Depending on the severity, specific examinations may additionally be prescribed, for example, microdensitometry and ultrasound. Having examined the hemorrhage in the eye, the treatment is prescribed strictly individually.

Treatment of the disease

The features of the course of the disease and the speed of recovery directly depend on the cause of the hemorrhage in the eye. Treatment is prescribed taking into account the area that was affected. These factors determine the selection of suitable drugs and procedures. Without fail, this issue must be resolved by an experienced specialist and under his supervision. Alternative methods can only worsen the situation or cause complete loss of vision. Drops with hemorrhage in the eye, for example, will reduce pain, but you still need to see a doctor.

For the treatment of hyphema, drops of 3% iodide are usually prescribed, which should be instilled into the sore eye. Quite often, with bruising, special operations are performed to cleanse the eye from a blood clot. Do not worry and panic if you have had a hemorrhage in the eye for the first time. What to do in such a situation - experts will tell you. They will provide you with complete peace and relaxation of the visual organs.

If there was a repeated hemorrhage in the eye, treatment is reduced to mandatory and urgent hospitalization. It is also necessary in the case when a bruise is noted in the cavity of the orbit. This type of bruising is fraught with complications that can cause vision loss. In particular, do not joke with hemorrhages that have formed in the eye area and in their appearance resemble glasses. In case of vitreous hemorrhage, you should also contact an ophthalmological clinic as soon as possible to get timely advice and help from experienced ophthalmologists.

If we talk about traditional medicine, then we can say with full confidence that none of its methods will defeat the hemorrhage in the eye. Treatment should be prescribed only by a doctor. Do not even think about experimenting, because the organs of vision are one of the most important for every person. Remember that even a small oversight in treatment can cause irreversible consequences. And not every mistake made in such situations can be corrected in the future. Not everyone will pay attention to a small bruise, behind which a serious problem may be hiding. In fact, not everyone knows what a hemorrhage in the eye can actually signal. Causes, treatment of this disease is in the competence of experienced professionals. And only they can solve this issue with minimal consequences for the patient's health.


From this article you will learn: what can be a hemorrhage in the eye, the causes of its occurrence, symptoms and diagnostic methods, what to do in this situation.

1. Hyphema
2. Subconjunctival hemorrhage
3. Hemorrhage in the mucous body
4. Retinal hemorrhage
Forecast and prevention


Hemorrhage is the release of blood outside the blood vessels. It can occur in any human organ, including the eyeball.

Click on photo to enlarge

Pathology can develop in different structures of the eye, so there are 4 types of it:

Depending on the location and size, a hemorrhage in the eye may not pose any danger, and may even cause complete loss of vision.

Each of these types has its own characteristic symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment. Ophthalmologists deal with all types of hemorrhage.

A hyphema is a collection of blood inside the anterior chamber of the eyeball, which is located between the cornea (the transparent membrane of the eye above the pupil) and the iris (the colored part of the eye). Blood can block the iris and pupil in whole or in part, disrupting vision.

Hyphema can occur with an eye injury, after ophthalmic surgery.


The diagnosis is established by an ophthalmologist based on the symptoms of the disease. The doctor also determines visual acuity, intraocular pressure and an examination of the internal structure of the eye. In some cases, the ophthalmologist prescribes computed tomography of the orbit and the eyeball.

Based on the suspected cause of the hyphema and the results of the ophthalmologic examination, the doctor may prescribe:

In the presence of hyphema, aspirin and other drugs that thin the blood are canceled. If the hemorrhage increases intraocular pressure, it can lead to glaucoma or damage to the cornea. In such cases, surgical or conservative treatment with eye drops may be necessary.

Subconjunctival hemorrhage in the eye is similar to a normal bruise on the skin. It looks like a single red spot or many red dots on the sclera (the white part of the eyeball). This redness is blood that has come out of the vessels under the conjunctiva - a transparent membrane that covers the sclera and the inner surface of the eyelids.

The conjunctiva contains a large number of tiny blood vessels that can rupture and result in an outpouring of blood.

Although the presence of a subconjunctival hemorrhage can be frightening for a person, it almost never poses a serious danger to health and vision, and often does not even cause any symptoms. You can find it by looking in the mirror. With such a hemorrhage in the eye, in most cases there is no need for treatment. Over time, the blood stain will slowly disappear on its own, a process that can take several days or weeks, depending on its size. In case of eye irritation, an ophthalmologist may prescribe artificial tear drops.

The mucilaginous body is a clear, gel-like substance at the back of the eyeball, located behind the lens. It helps hold the shape of the eye and also allows light to pass from the pupil to the retina. Sometimes patients develop hemorrhage in the mucous body.


The mucous body itself does not have a blood supply, so blood enters it when the retinal vessels rupture. The most common causes of this hemorrhage in the eye are as follows:

  • the presence of pathological retinal vessels in diabetic retinopathy;
  • detachment of the mucous body from the retina;
  • eye injury;
  • damage to retinal vessels in hypertension, atherosclerosis;
  • tumors of the eyeball;
  • ophthalmosurgical interventions.

Symptoms of small hemorrhages include dots, cobwebs, haze, and shadows in the field of view. All items may have a reddish tint. Most often, hemorrhage in the mucous body develops in one eye. In more severe cases, the patient has blurred vision, even complete loss of it is possible.

This hemorrhage in the eye is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist who performs:

Sometimes, to identify the cause of the pathology, a laboratory blood test (for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus), computed tomography of the eyeball and orbit is necessary.

Treatment of hemorrhage in the mucous body depends on its causes. It is aimed at:

After the source of the hemorrhage is found, specific treatment is carried out. If there is not much blood in the mucous body, and its source can be seen, a cure is possible. Laser coagulation of the bleeding vessel and restoration of retinal damage are performed. After that, it takes time for the blood to resolve, which takes several weeks. Strenuous activity should be avoided during this time, as this can cause new bleeding. You need to sleep with the head end of the bed raised, which contributes to the settling of blood in the mucous body in the lower part of the eyeball, outside the line of sight.

If the blood in the mucous body completely obscures the view and interferes with treatment, first a vitrectomy is performed (an operation to remove the mucous body), and then the bleeding is stopped. After a vitrectomy, silicone fluid is injected into the eyeball to hold the retina in place.

The retina is a light-sensitive layer of cells located on the back wall of the eyeball. These cells receive photons of light and convert them into nerve impulses that are transmitted to the brain. The retina is rich in blood vessels that can rupture and cause bleeding.

Diabetes Shaken baby syndrome - damage to various organs due to shaking or shaking the child's body
High blood pressure Child abuse
Anemia Retinopathy of prematurity - occurs in premature babies with low body weight. Underdeveloped retinal vessels can be weak, easily damaged and bleed
Leukemia
Aneurysms (expansion, stretching) of retinal vessels
Eyeball damage
Traumatic brain injury
Rapid change in atmospheric pressure (for example, when ascending rapidly from great depths)

This bleeding in the eye is usually diagnosed by an ophthalmologist who performs an ophthalmoscopy (examination of the fundus of the eye), an ultrasound examination, and an angiography of the retinal vessels. During an angiography, a contrast agent is injected intravenously into the patient, after which the doctor examines the vessels of the retina using a special tool.

The causes and treatment of pathology are closely interrelated. The choice of treatment depends on the cause and severity of the hemorrhage in the eye. In many cases, with moderate severity and no causal relationship with chronic diseases, the blood can resolve on its own, without any treatment. The following methods are applied:

  • Laser photocoagulation - cauterization of affected and pathological vessels using a laser. This method is used to repair damage to the retina.
  • Injections of drugs that interrupt the growth of pathological vessels in the retina. They are most often used in diabetic patients, in addition to laser photocoagulation.

The prognosis for pathology depends on its type and cause. For example, subconjunctival hemorrhage and hyphema have a favorable outcome and little to no effect on vision in the long term. Bleeding in the mucous body or retina caused by diabetes mellitus or hypertension can cause severe deterioration or complete loss of vision.

To reduce the risk of developing hemorrhages in the eyeball:

Hemorrhage in the eye is a collective concept that is characterized by the ingress of blood from the vascular bed into the tissues, environments and membranes of the eye, where there should not be blood normally. This condition has many different causes, quite often this cause is an eye injury, but often a disease or a special condition of the body acts as a trigger, it also happens that the cause of hemorrhage in the eye remains unknown.

The greatest importance in matters of treatment and possible consequences of a hemorrhage in the eye is not the cause that caused it, but the location of the outpouring of blood, which formed the basis of the classification:

  • Hemorrhage under the conjunctiva (hyposphagma).
  • Hemorrhage in the anterior chamber of the eye (hyphema).
  • Hemorrhage into the vitreous body (hemophthalmos).
  • Retinal hemorrhage.

Each of the above conditions requires separate approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and can occur both individually and in combination in various combinations.

Hyposphagma, or hemorrhage in the sclera, or subconjunctival hemorrhage, is a condition when blood accumulates between the thinnest outer shell of the eye (conjunctiva) and the albuginea. People also often say “the vessel burst” and this is true: the root cause is damage to the smallest vessels of the conjunctiva, from which blood flows. But the reasons that caused this condition are extremely diverse:

  1. Direct traumatic effect on the eyeball: impact, friction, sudden change in barometric pressure, foreign body, chemical effects;
  2. Increased arterial and venous pressure: hypertensive crisis, sneezing, coughing, physical overload, bending over, suffocation, labor attempts, constipation tension, vomiting, and even intense crying in a child;
  3. Reduced blood clotting: congenital and acquired hemophilia, the use of medications of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents (aspirin, heparin, ticlid, dipyridamole, plavix and others);
  4. Diseases caused by infection (hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, leptospirosis);
  5. Increased vascular fragility: diabetes mellitus, atherosclerotic disease, vitamin K and C deficiency, systemic connective tissue diseases (autoimmune vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus)
  6. Condition after surgical interventions on the organs of vision.

Symptoms of hemorrhage in the sclera are reduced to a visual defect in the form of a blood-red spot on a white background. A feature of this hemorrhage is that over time it does not change its color like a bruise (bruise), but in its development it simply becomes lighter until it disappears completely. Quite rarely, discomfort of the eye can be observed in the form of a feeling of a foreign body, slight itching, which are more likely to be of a psychological origin.

Treatment of subconjunctival hemorrhage usually does not present any difficulties. In the vast majority of cases, the reverse development occurs without the use of medications.

However, to speed up resorption and limit the spread of hemorrhage can help:

  • If you managed to catch the moment of formation of a hemorrhage under the conjunctiva and it increases “before our eyes”, vasoconstrictive eye drops (visin, naphthyzine, octilia and others) are extremely effective, they will stop the outflow of blood from the vascular bed, which will stop the spread of hemorrhage;
  • To accelerate the resorption of an already formed hemorrhage, potassium iodide eye drops are effective.

A single hemorrhage in the sclera, formed even for no apparent reason and proceeding without inflammation, decreased vision, "flies" and other symptoms, does not require examination and treatment to a doctor. In the case of frequent relapses or a complicated course, hyposphagma can signal serious diseases, both of the eye itself and of the body as a whole, which requires immediate contact with a medical institution to diagnose the pathology that caused it and prescribe treatment.

The anterior chamber of the eye is the area between the cornea (the clear, convex "lens" of the eye) and the iris (the disk with the pupil in the center, which gives our eyes their unique color) with the lens (the clear lens behind the pupil). Normally, this area is filled with an absolutely transparent liquid - the moisture of the anterior chamber, the appearance of blood in which is called a hyphema or hemorrhage into the anterior chamber of the eye.

The causes of hyphema, although they seem to be completely unrelated, carry in their essence the same element - rupture of the vessel. They are conditionally divided into three groups:

  1. Trauma is the most common cause of hyphema.
  1. trauma is penetrating - damage to the eye is accompanied by the communication of the internal contents of the eyeball and the environment, such an injury often occurs from the action of sharp objects, less often from the action of blunt objects;
  2. the injury is not penetrating - with the external integrity of the eye, its internal structures are destroyed, which leads to the outflow of blood into the anterior chamber of the eye, such an injury is almost always the result of the action of blunt objects;
  3. also, all types of operations on the organs of vision, which may be accompanied by hyphema, can also be attributed to the group of injuries.
  1. Diseases of the eyeball associated with the formation of new, defective vessels inside the eye (neovascularization). Newly formed vessels have structural defects that cause their increased fragility, which is the reason for the outflow of blood into the anterior chamber of the eye with little or no impact. These diseases include:
  1. diabetic angiopathy (a consequence of diabetes mellitus);
  2. blockage of retinal veins;
  3. retinal disinsertion;
  4. intraocular tumors;
  5. inflammatory diseases of the internal structures of the eye.
  1. Diseases of the body as a whole:
  1. chronic alcohol and drug intoxication;
  2. blood clotting disorder;
  3. oncological diseases;
  4. systemic connective tissue diseases.

degree of hyphema

Hyphema, based on the level of blood in the upright position of the patient, is divided into four degrees:

  • The 1st visually anterior chamber of the eye is occupied by blood by no more than a third;
  • 2nd blood fills the anterior chamber of the eye to no more than half;
  • the 3rd chamber is more than ½ filled with blood, but not completely;
  • 4th total filling with blood of the anterior chamber of the eye "black eye".

Despite the obvious convention of such a division, it is of practical importance for the choice of treatment tactics and prognosis of the outcome of hemorrhage. The degree of hyphema also determines its symptoms and their severity:

  1. Visually determined presence of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye;
  2. Decreased visual acuity, especially in the supine position, to the point that only a sense of light is preserved and no more (at 3-4th degree);
  3. Blurred vision in the affected eye;
  4. Fear of bright light (photophobia);
  5. Sometimes there is a feeling of pain.

The diagnosis of hemorrhage in the anterior chamber of the eye at a doctor's appointment usually does not cause any significant difficulties and is based on technically simple manipulations:

  • visual inspection;
  • Tonometry - measurement of intraocular pressure;
  • Visometry - establishing visual acuity;
  • Biomicroscopy is an instrumental method using a special ophthalmic microscope.

manifestations of hemorrhage in the anterior chamber of the eye

Hyphema treatment is always associated with the elimination of the pathology that caused it - the abolition of blood-thinning drugs, the fight against inflammatory diseases of the eye, the rejection of bad habits, maintaining the elasticity of the vascular wall, and so on. Almost always, small amounts of blood in the cavity behind the cornea resolve on their own with the use of a 3% solution of potassium iodide and drugs that lower intraocular pressure.

Surgical treatment is performed in case of a complicated course of hyphema, indications for surgery are:

  1. There is no effect from the use of drugs (blood does not resolve) within 10 days;
  2. The blood has lost its fluidity - a clot has formed;
  3. The cornea began to stain with blood;
  4. Intraocular pressure does not decrease during treatment.

In case of refusal of the operation, such formidable complications as glaucoma, uveitis, as well as a significant drop in visual acuity may develop, due to a decrease in the transparency of the cornea stained with blood.

hemophthalmos

The cavity of a healthy eye is filled with a crystal-clear gel called the vitreous body. This formation performs a number of important functions, including the conduction of light from the lens to the retina. Thus, one of the most important features of the vitreous body is its absolute transparency, which is lost when foreign substances enter it, which also includes blood. The ingress of blood into the vitreous body is called hemophthalmos.

The main mechanism for the development of internal hemorrhage in the eye is the outflow of blood from the vascular bed into the vitreous body.

A number of pathologies can serve as the cause of such bleeding:

  • Diabetes mellitus with damage to the retina and blood vessels of the eye;
  • Blockage (thrombosis) of retinal vessels;
  • Widespread atherosclerosis with involvement of the retinal vessels in the process;
  • Arterial hypertension without proper treatment;
  • Congenital anomalies of the retinal vessels (microaneurysms);
  • Penetrating damage to the eyeball (when there are ruptures of the membranes of the eye);
  • Contusion of the eye (outwardly, the integrity of the eye is preserved);
  • High intracranial pressure (for example, with intracerebral hemorrhages, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries);
  • Forced increase in intrathoracic pressure (excessive exercise, coughing, sneezing, attempts during childbirth, vomiting);
  • Blood diseases (anemia, hemophilia, taking medications that reduce blood clotting, blood tumors);
  • Neoplasms of the internal structures of the eye;
  • autoimmune diseases;
  • Retinal detachment often leads to hemophthalmos;
  • Congenital diseases (sickle cell anemia, Criswick-Skepens disease and others).

It should also be borne in mind that severe myopia (nearsightedness) greatly contributes to the development of hemophthalmos.

The internal environment of the eye does not contain nerve endings, respectively, in such a situation, the eye cannot feel pain, fullness, itching, or feel anything during the development of internal hemorrhage in the eye. The only symptom is a drop in vision, sometimes to complete blindness in severe cases. The degree of vision loss and the features of the symptoms directly depend on the volume of the hemorrhage, which, according to its massiveness, is divided into:

    manifestation of hemorrhage in the vitreous body

    Total (complete) hemophthalmus - the vitreous body is filled with blood by more than 3/4, almost always, with rare exceptions, a similar phenomenon is observed due to injury. Symptoms are characterized by almost complete blindness, only the sensation of light is preserved, the person is not able to distinguish objects in front of him, or navigate in space;

  1. Subtotal hemophthalmos - the inner space of the eye is filled with blood from 1/3 to 3/4. Most often, it occurs with diabetic pathology of the retinal vessels, while the affected eye can only distinguish the outlines of objects and the silhouettes of people;
  2. Partial hemophthalmos - the area of ​​​​lesion of the vitreous body is less than a third. The most common form of hemophthalmos is observed as a result of arterial hypertension, retinal damage and detachment, and diabetes mellitus. Manifested by black "flies", a red stripe or just a haze before the eyes.

It should be noted that vitreous hemorrhage rarely affects both eyes at the same time, this pathology is characterized by one-sidedness.

Vitreous hemorrhage is diagnosed on the basis of anamnesis, biomicroscopy and ultrasound examination, which helps to determine the causes that led to hemophthalmia, assess its volume and choose further treatment tactics.

Despite the fact that initially the tactics of treating this pathology is expectant, and partial hemophthalmia often regresses without treatment, immediately after the onset of symptoms it is necessary to seek qualified medical help as soon as possible, since timely determination of the causes of hemorrhage can save not only vision, but also human life.

To date, there are no conservative methods of treating hemophthalmia with proven effectiveness, however, there are clear recommendations for the prevention of recurrent hemorrhages and the speedy resorption of an existing one:

  • Avoid physical activity;
  • Observe bed rest, while the head should be slightly higher than the body;
  • Apply vitamin (C, PP, K, B) and drugs that strengthen the vascular wall;
  • Drops of potassium iodide are recommended in the form of instillation and electrophoresis.

Not always conservative treatment leads to the desired effect, then there is a need for an operation - vitrectomy - complete or partial removal of the vitreous body. The indications for this operation are:

  1. hemophthalmos in combination with retinal detachment, or in the case when it is not possible to examine the retina, and the cause of the hemorrhage has not been established;
  2. hemophthalmos is not associated with trauma and regression is not observed after 2-3 months;
  3. lack of positive dynamics after 2-3 weeks after the injury;
  4. hemophthalmus associated with a penetrating wound of the eye.

At the present stage of development of medicine, vitrectomy is performed on an outpatient basis, does not require anesthesia sleep, is performed through micro-incisions up to 0.5 mm in size and without suturing, which ensures a quick and relatively painless return of vision to a satisfactory level.

retinal hemorrhage

Directly behind the vitreous body is the retina or retina, which performs the function of "perceiving" light, and already behind it is the choroid, which contains the source of hemorrhage - the blood vessels. Thus, the causes of retinal hemorrhages are completely identical to the causes that cause vitreous hemorrhage.

Under the concept of "retinal hemorrhage" they combine a number of pathologies, depending on the place of outflow of blood relative to the retina and the form of the hemorrhage itself:

  • Dashed hemorrhages - when viewed from the fundus, they look like flames or clear features. They most often do not cause extensive lesions and are localized in the thickness of the retina;
  • Rounded hemorrhages look like clear circles and are somewhat deeper than the previous ones;
  • Preretinal hemorrhages - located between the vitreous body and the retina, have a clear boundary between the level of formed elements and blood plasma, while the vessels of the retina are hidden behind the hemorrhage;
  • Subretinal hemorrhages are located behind the retina, their borders have blurred contours, and the retinal vessels pass in front of the place of blood outflow.

Manifestations of retinal hemorrhage are reduced to a sharp drop in visual acuity, sometimes in a certain area of ​​the visual field, which is usually not accompanied by pain or other discomfort.

Diagnosis is carried out in a medical institution by an ophthalmologist, while it is not difficult or expensive, including:

  1. Visometry - determination of visual acuity;
  2. Perimetry - determination of visual fields (visibility area);
  3. Ophthalmoscopy - examination of the fundus;
  4. Computed tomography of the retina;
  5. Sometimes angiography using fluorescent substances is performed to assess the condition of the vessels.

Due to the high risk of complete loss of vision, as well as frequent relapses, the treatment of retinal hemorrhage should always be carried out in a specialized hospital. Two directions of treatment are used - conservative and with the help of a laser.

Conservative treatment involves the use of:

  • Corticosteroids (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone);
  • Angioprotectors (pentoxifylline, trental, flexital);
  • Antioxidant preparations (various vitamin complexes with vitamins C, A, E);
  • NSAIDs (diclofenac, nimesulide);
  • Diuretics (furosemide, indopamide);
  • Control of intraocular pressure.

In the case of large retinal hemorrhages, surgical laser coagulation is used together with conservative treatment.

Hemorrhage in the eye, regardless of its location, requires attention in the form of an appeal to an ophthalmologist in order to consult and determine further treatment tactics. Treatment at home, self-treatment and traditional medicine, without the participation of a qualified specialist, can lead to irreversible consequences.

Almost all people have encountered blood in the eyeball. It is quite normal when the capillaries burst as a result of physical activity, and a little fluid flows out. But such occurrences are usually rare. If eye hemorrhage is your constant companion, then it is time to think about visiting an ophthalmologist. Bursting vessels indicate that the body is undergoing any pathological processes. If you do not start their treatment, you can lose your sight.

Retinal hemorrhage does not appear on its own. There are certain factors that affect the integrity of vessels and membranes. Most often, hemorrhage appears due to contusion, i.e. damage to the eye by mechanical force. The degrees of contusion and their characteristics are presented in the table below.

Even minor injuries can cause the eye to stop seeing normally. The main danger lies in the fact that the visual characteristics of the injury often do not correspond to internal injuries, so the fundus should be examined by a specialist using special devices. Also, hemorrhage in the retina of the eye can occur under the influence of the following factors:

  • atherosclerotic plaques;
  • arterial hypertension;
  • diabetes;
  • myopia;
  • angiopathy;
  • increased vascular permeability;
  • intraocular tumors;

Doctors should be engaged in determining the nature of the hemorrhage. The patient himself will not be able to determine whether a broken capillary is evidence of a dangerous disease or not. Therefore, when you notice intraocular hemorrhage, immediately consult a doctor.

Like any pathology, hemorrhages have their own classification. It depends on the location of the injuries, their severity and a number of other factors. All types of eye hemorrhages are presented in the table below.

Hyphema or accumulation of blood in the anterior chamber The spot is homogeneous, the contours are even.
Blood fills the entire anterior cavity of the eye chamber.
The spot can move to the bottom when the person changes position.
Vision does not fall.
Blood clots resolve in 3-4 days.
Hemophthalmos or accumulation of blood in the vitreous A drilling formation placed behind the lens.
May be complete or partial.
It provokes an absolute loss of vision or a significant decrease in its acuity.
Accompanied by bright flashes before the eyes, dark flickering spots.
Retinal hemorrhage Visually, it practically does not manifest itself.
The patient may complain of flies or a blurring effect.
When you try to look with your eye in any direction, the anomalies also shift.
With frequent occurrences of this anomaly, the patient may lose vision.
Accumulation of blood in the eye The main symptom is swelling.
The apple of the eye moves forward.
Eye movements are extremely limited.
Vision is reduced.
The main cause of this pathology is contusion. One of the varieties of blood diseases or vasculitis can also lead to this.

Treatment of retinal hemorrhage is to organize absolute physical rest for the patient. The doctor prescribes drugs to restore elasticity and reduce the fragility of blood vessels, stop the blood. If the area of ​​damage is extensive, the patient is hospitalized in a center specializing in the treatment of ophthalmic ailments. Hemorrhage into the sclera often goes away on its own in 2-3 days. But if the area of ​​the pathology is more than half of the apple of the eye, then it may take 3-4 weeks to recover. Doctors do not recommend using any medications and drops, because. they won't speed up the healing process. In order to prevent hemorrhage, patients are recommended:

  • take more vitamin C;
  • try to avoid sudden movements of the head;
  • refrain from physical activity until the blood spot has resolved;
  • take Troxerutin or other drugs that strengthen the vascular walls.

The accumulation of blood in the orbit in 90% of cases indicates that the skull was damaged, so it is treated in a hospital. Hemophthalmos is considered the most dangerous type of eye bleeding. It is treated only in the conditions of the ophthalmological center. It is possible to save vision if the patient consults doctors in time. It is strictly forbidden for eye hemorrhages:

  1. Actively rub your eyes. Even if your eyelid itches a lot, you should not touch the injured surface. So you will only harm yourself by provoking a repeated rupture of blood vessels.
  2. Put on lenses.
  3. Bury any drops without consulting a doctor.
  4. Stop taking medicines that thin the blood.

Without medical treatment, the accumulation of blood in the sclera can resolve. In other cases, the patient will completely or partially lose his sight if he does not go to an ophthalmologist. No need to rely on the body's defenses when the vessels burst as a result of strong mechanical stress or under the influence of hypertension. In such cases, immunity will not play a decisive role in restoring the integrity of the eye. As for the prevention of the disease, it is necessary to treat diseases that provoke rupture of blood vessels. This should be done under the guidance of a therapist and other doctors.

There are many herbs and products that can accelerate the healing of blood vessels and blood resorption. But before you do healing lotions, consult a doctor. For some ailments, people should not create additional pressure on the eye or use plants to treat the effects of bleeding. The simplest and most affordable remedy is a black tea compress. The following rules must be observed:

  1. Welding should be cold, warm compresses should not be done.
  2. No need to pour tea or put tea leaves on the eye. Dip a piece of gauze or a cotton ball in it.
  3. Apply a compress for 10-15 minutes to the affected eye.

In a similar way, compresses are prepared from chamomile, cabbage juice and cottage cheese. Aloe juice lotions are effective against edema and blood accumulation. To improve blood vessels, traditional healers recommend taking a decoction of chicory. The remedy is prepared from the rhizomes of the plant. 3 tablespoons pour 1.5 liters of water, bring to a boil, and then take 125 ml 3 times a day. The rest of the decoction can be used for lotions.

Remember that traditional medicine recipes are suitable for treating mild hemorrhages. In severe pathology, when there is a partial loss of vision, they will not help. If you notice that it is difficult for you to focus on objects or your head starts to hurt when you move your eyes, then immediately go to the doctor. Only he can correctly identify the disease and develop an effective treatment plan.

One day, going to the mirror, you see a discouraging picture - a bruise has formed in the eye. Run to the hospital or, for example, manage drops at home? It is still better to consult an ophthalmologist, since hemorrhage in the eye can have many explanations - from sudden physical exertion to the symptoms of very serious diseases.

There are only two causes of intraocular hemorrhages:

  • Trauma (contusion - mechanical damage to the eye itself or the bones of the skull, chest, resulting in intraocular hemorrhages);
  • Vascular weakness due to any internal or oncological disease.

In each case, a medical consultation is required, possibly treatment.

The severity of the contusion affects the safety of vision in the eye: in some cases it is not disturbed in any way, in others it temporarily deteriorates or disappears altogether.

There are three degrees of concussion:

  • The first is when the hemorrhage in the eye is insignificant, the eyeball is not damaged, and vision is not impaired. After a while, the bruising disappears completely and recovery occurs.
  • The second is when the tissues of the eye are slightly damaged, and the patient only feels light, but notes a deterioration in the ability to clearly see objects. Treatment makes it possible to restore vision.
  • The third - when the death of the eyeball occurs. It is impossible to restore vision with the third degree of contusion, since irreversible changes develop in the very structure of the eye tissues.

Any injury to the eye must be taken very seriously: sometimes even a slight bruise can have tragic consequences, since the degree of contusion does not always correlate with the severity of the injury.

The eye is an organ that is abundantly supplied with blood, and therefore has an extensive vascular network. Some diseases can affect the elasticity and permeability of the walls of the eye vessels, so hemorrhage in the eye or both eyes at once is a frequent and inevitable symptom of serious pathologies:

  • Hematological diseases (anemia of various origins, acute leukemia);
  • Diabetes mellitus - with developing diabetic retinopathy;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • Coagulopathy (blood clotting disorders);
  • Hypertension;
  • myopia;
  • collagenosis (systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, vasculitis);
  • Anomalies of the eye vessels themselves - uveitis, iritis;
  • Diseases of the retina;
  • Intraocular tumors that compress blood vessels.

Recurring hemorrhages in the eye, even with a generally normal state of health, is an unequivocal reason for a wide examination, during which the true causes of vascular fragility can be identified.

Practical and beautiful lenses, which are often used to replace the usual glasses, can also cause hemorrhage in the eye if they are not properly matched. Mechanical irritation of the mucous membrane not only causes irritation and a feeling of sand, but also injures small vessels. The result is small bruising, which quickly disappears if you refrain from wearing lenses for a while and subsequently choose the correct size.

The female body during childbirth bears enormous loads, so ruptures of small vessels in the eyes are a frequent occurrence. They gradually go away on their own, without treatment.

Physical activity, such as sports or hard work, can also cause bleeding in the eye. It is enough to reduce their intensity - and the bruising will disappear.

A long air flight, during which the pressure is constantly changing, can cause damage to small vessels and, as a result, the occurrence of hemorrhage in the eye. It will go away on its own in a few days without treatment.

A strained cough of an allergic or infectious origin is another reason for the appearance of small red dots in the eyes. With the treatment of the underlying disease, they also disappear.

There are situations in which the whites of the eyes lose their natural white color and acquire a reddish tint of varying intensity: small vessels on them become visible to the naked eye. Of course, it is difficult to call this a real hemorrhage in the eye, but you should not take such a problem lightly: the reason here can be not only in banal overwork or lack of sleep, but also in much more serious things - for example, in the development of an infectious process.

Viral or bacterial conjunctivitis is the most common cause of severe eye redness. True, the situation is not limited to redness alone: ​​a person complains of burning, soreness, and lacrimation. In such cases, you need to urgently go to the clinic and start treatment, since conjunctivitis is extremely contagious.

Some people experience severe redness of the eyes the morning after drinking alcohol. This is an individual reaction. You just need to refrain from drinking - and the color of the eyes quickly returns to normal.

Having found a bruise on the eye, you can not worry too much only in one case: if the eye does not hurt and vision is not impaired. Otherwise, you will have to consult a doctor to find out why there was a hemorrhage in the eye: treatment may be required quite long and serious.

If the eye is very reddened or bruised, but there is no pain or sensation of a foreign body, pharmacy drops or home remedies are usually used to quickly remove the redness.

Vizin, octilia, naphthyzinum for the eyes, okumetil - vasoconstrictor drops that prevent blood from escaping through the walls of blood vessels. They are usually used to quickly remove even quite intense redness.

Treatment of hemorrhages in the eye lasts longer, requires careful observation and accuracy. The main methods of treatment are the application of cold (ice, products from the freezer), as well as compresses from herbal decoctions, tea leaves, juice of domestic plants.

Here are some recipes with which you can get rid of bruising in the eyes:

Strong tea compress

Brew black tea stronger, let it cool (the colder the tea leaves, the better), moisten a cotton ball (wrap it in a bandage so that the villi do not get into the eye) and apply to the sore eye. Lie down for 15-20 minutes.

Chamomile compress

Brew strong chamomile tea (two tablespoons of dried flowers in a glass of boiling water), let it brew and cool. Strain the infusion and soak a cotton ball wrapped in a bandage in it. Apply to the sore eye and lie down for a while.

Lotion from water with vinegar or ash

Add one or two drops of ordinary vinegar to a tablespoon of boiled water, stir and moisten a cotton swab to be applied to the sore eye.

The same can be done with ash: if it is, you need to boil a little ash in water, strain the broth and apply a swab dipped in this liquid to the sore eye.

Lotion from cottage cheese

If there is fresh cottage cheese in the refrigerator, you can take a teaspoon of the product and apply it to the eye, wrapping the cottage cheese in a bandage or a piece of clean natural cloth. A whey compress will also give a good effect.

A lotion from cabbage or cabbage juice

A leaf of fresh cabbage should be crushed into puree and the resulting slurry should be applied to the sore eye, wrapping it in a piece of clean cloth. The same effect will give freshly squeezed cabbage juice.

All compresses and lotions should be applied several times a day until the condition of the eye improves.

Bruising in the eyes is a sure sign of vascular fragility. This suggests that the body is deficient in vitamins C and P. To compensate for their lack and prevent hemorrhages in the eyes in the future, you can regularly take regular ascorbic acid, ascorutin or complex vitamin preparations, which contain vitamins C and P.

In summer, the diet of people with problems with vascular permeability should include seasonal fruits, berries and vegetables, and in winter - sauerkraut, citrus fruits.

It must be remembered that bruising in the eyes is not only a cosmetic defect, but also a cause for concern - especially if they appear regularly and for no apparent reason. Hurry to the doctor - you may have serious health problems: your eyes are talking about them.

It will be useful for you to know what to do if a vessel bursts in the eye.

The human eye experiences significant stress every day. In order for vision to remain sharp for many years, it is necessary that the tissues of the eye be supplied with sufficient oxygen and nutrients. The task of such supply is performed by small vessels - capillaries. For the normal functioning of the visual apparatus, it is extremely important that they maintain their integrity, but this does not always happen. Microtraumas of the eye vessels, during which small hemorrhages occur, are extremely common. Sometimes they are triggered by external factors, but regular reddening of the whites of the eyes, or sclera, may indicate a health problem. In such a situation, you need to have an idea about the causes that cause ruptures of the eye capillaries.

Redness of the sclera is often the result of a drop in overall vitality as a result of chronic fatigue. If a person consistently lacks sleep, is constantly nervous about professional or domestic troubles, suffers from an excessive sense of responsibility (which is typical of workaholics), then this is always reflected in his appearance, including the color of the whites of his eyes. The sclera acquires an unhealthy pinkish hue caused by microtrauma of the walls of the eye capillaries.

A similar picture is observed in people who regularly overstrain their visual apparatus. The whites of the eyes turn red during prolonged reading, watching TV programs or working at a computer, if these activities are not accompanied by the observance of sanitary and hygienic rules (optimal alternation of periods of work and rest, gymnastics for the eyes, etc.).

Source: depositphotos.com

With a severe head injury, it is imperative to visit an ophthalmologist, even if the victim does not notice a deterioration in vision. The fact is that with craniocerebral injuries, hemorrhages in the internal tissues of the eyes are possible. Reddening of the proteins does not occur, but the consequences can be the most serious (up to retinal detachment and complete loss of vision).

Quite often, injuries to the eye apparatus itself occur - due to the ingress of small solid particles (dust, grains of sand), chemical or thermal burns, etc. Violations of the integrity of the capillaries in such a situation cannot be avoided. If the damage is small, discomfort may quickly disappear, but it will still be better if the affected eye is examined by a specialist.

Source: depositphotos.com

Eye capillaries are very sensitive to physical stress. Ruptures in the walls of blood vessels are common in athletes who are too keen on strength training. The risk group also includes people who are predominantly sedentary and poorly adapted to physical labor: they may experience hemorrhages in the sclera even with a sharp tilt of the body or an attempt to lift a relatively light load.

In women, the capillaries of the eyes are often injured during childbirth due to enormous physical and nervous stress. Similar are the causes of reddening of the whites of the eyes in a small child, when he cries for a very long time and loudly.

Source: depositphotos.com

Violation of glucose metabolism adversely affects the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels. In diabetics, all capillaries are affected, including the eyes. The lesion is accompanied by a gradual decrease in visual acuity.

Regular reddening of the whites of the eyes, which is observed simultaneously with constant thirst, weight gain, increased urination, skin itching, is a very dangerous situation. It is necessary to visit an endocrinologist and undergo a complete examination, it is necessary to donate blood for sugar.

Source: depositphotos.com

In people suffering from arterial hypertension, peripheral vessels may not withstand the increased blood pressure and burst. In this case, nosebleeds and (or) intraocular hemorrhage occur.

On the one hand, such an event can be considered a success: a cerebral hemorrhage would be much more dangerous. On the other hand, damage to the eye capillaries in hypertension indicates that the patient has problems regarding the state of the walls of blood vessels. This increases the risk of developing a stroke, because such a patient needs constant medical supervision.

Source: depositphotos.com

Small hemorrhages in the eyes may appear during SARS. Provoking factors are high fever, coughing, sneezing, increased lacrimation.

Reddening of proteins is associated with diseases such as tuberculosis or typhoid. In patients suffering from some sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis), the outflow of fluid from the eyes is disturbed, which can also cause microtrauma of the capillary walls and reddening of the proteins.

Source: depositphotos.com

With eye diseases, hemorrhages in the sclera or surrounding tissues occur very often. The list of such ailments is long. The most common are:

  • infectious and inflammatory lesions (keratitis, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, uveitis, etc.);
  • acute glaucoma;
  • neoplasms of the eye tissues.

In any particular case, there is a whole range of symptoms, each of which must be analyzed by an ophthalmologist in order to make an accurate diagnosis.

Source: depositphotos.com

This is a severe autoimmune systemic lesion of the connective tissue, accompanied by a decrease in the function of the lacrimal glands. In patients suffering from this disease, tears almost do not stand out. They develop dry eye syndrome, which causes fragility of the eye capillaries.

Source: depositphotos.com

We can name the following ailments associated with damage to the walls of blood vessels: hemorrhagic vasculitis, Takayasu's disease, Wegener's granulomatosis, Behcet's syndrome, temporal arteritis. Patients develop fragility of the capillary walls and regular microscopic hemorrhages, including on the surface of the whites of the eyes.

Source: depositphotos.com

The cause of increased intracranial pressure can be neoplasms of the brain, congenital pathologies of the bones of the skull, neurocirculatory dystonia and some other diseases. With high intracranial pressure, the eye capillaries often do not withstand the pressure of blood and burst, which can look like reddening of the proteins, and like areas of hemorrhages in the eyes.

Source: depositphotos.com

If hemorrhages in the tissues of the eyes occur simultaneously with the frequent appearance of hematomas, hemorrhagic rash, minor skin lesions or increased bleeding of the gums, then this may indicate a violation of blood clotting. The situation requires an immediate examination of the person in order to start treatment as soon as possible.

Hemorrhage in the eye can have different causes, it can be injuries and very serious functional disorders of the vital systems of the body. The material will give a classification of ocular hemorrhages and an explanation of the reasons why they occur.

Types and differences of hemorrhages in the eye

In young people, any hemorrhage in the eye is associated with an accidental blow or fight. Older people are likely to think about a jump in blood pressure and begin to strongly advise you to urgently go to a therapist or at least use a blood pressure monitor.

Hyposphagma

This is the ingress of blood from the vessels under the conjunctiva. In the diagnosis made by the doctor in the medical history, such a blood spill in the sclera is also referred to as "subconjunctival hemorrhage in the eye." The people will diagnose “the vessel has burst”, which will also be correct, because such an accumulation of blood is caused by ruptures of the capillaries, from where the blood enters that part of the white of the eye that is located around the iris.

Possible reasons

  1. Traumatic impact on the eye; its long and strong friction; a sharp jump in atmospheric pressure (work in tanks, hyperbaric chambers, sealed enclosed spaces, etc.), a blow to the cornea by a foreign object (a large insect at high speed), exposure to aggressive chemicals.
  2. Poor blood clotting caused by congenital or acquired hemophilia, uncontrolled and excessive use of blood thinning drugs in the form of aspirin, dipyridamole, heparin, ticlid, etc.
  3. A jump in pressure during vascular spasms, childbirth with their attempts, constipation, a sharp, “from the heart”, sneezing, blowing your nose with a very stuffy nose, an attempt to lift an unbearable weight, suffocation, vomiting, convulsive cough.
  4. Eye infections.
  5. Consequences of eye surgery.
  6. Fragility of blood vessels caused by beriberi with a deficiency of vitamins K and C; diabetes, atherosclerosis, systemic connective tissue lesions (vasculitis, lupus).

Hyposphagma, when considered as a cosmetic defect, is considered the most harmless and quickly passing disease. Compared to subcutaneous hematomas (bruises), it does not change in color, but simply turns pale, gradually dissolving. The feeling of interference in the eye in the presence of such a hemorrhage can be attributed, rather, to psychological inconvenience, as a hindrance it is perceived more at the level of self-hypnosis. Thus, the disappearance of a blood spot inside the sclera occurs without medical intervention.

Although the resorption of the red spot can be accelerated by eye drops of potassium iodine. And if you have fixed the beginning of the formation of a bruise in the sclera, and it continues to expand, then stop this process by instilling the popular drip products Vizin, Naphthyzin for the Eyes, Octilia, etc.

Hyphema

The location of the hemorrhage is the compartment between the iris (which gives our eyes their unique color) and the convex outer lens of the transparent cornea. This place is called the anterior chamber of the eye.

In the normal state, the chamber is filled with a transparent substrate of complex composition. Hyphema is the seepage of blood into this chamber. The accumulation of such blood looks like a segment in the lower part of the iris, and the larger the hemorrhage, the larger the area occupied by this segment. The anterior chamber, as a result of extensive hemorrhage, can even be completely filled, giving the iris, whatever color it was before, a pure bloody color.

The cause of the pathology is always a rupture of the vessel. What are the most common causes of breakups?

Injuries

Types of injuries:

  • Penetrating - with damage to the eyes, starting from the cornea and further inward, forming a through channel between the internal cavity of the eyeball and the external environment. The most common wounds are piercing sharp objects. Less often - from blunt blows, but then the blow should be strong.
  • Non-penetrating. With such an impact, the eye can remain intact, but the impact results in consequences resembling a contusion, up to the dynamic destruction of the internal structures of the eye. This type of injury almost always occurs from impact with a blunt object. May be accompanied by a concussion.
  • Injuries include all surgical manipulations with the eyes.

Diseases of the eyeballs

Diseases of the eyeballs associated with the appearance and growth of defective blood vessels in the eye (neovascularization). New vessels always have some structural defects, which makes their walls more fragile than conventional ones. With ruptures of these walls with minimal impact, hemorrhage occurs in the cavity between the cornea and the iris.

Neovascularization comes from:

  • Diabetic angiopathy in diabetes
  • Defects of the venous network in the retina and its detachment that has begun
  • Tumors in the eye and inflammation of the intraocular structures.

Diagnostics

The obviousness of the signs of the disease does not cause doubts in the diagnosis, and it remains for the doctor, based on the very fact of hematopoiesis of the anterior chamber and the amount of blood in it, to prescribe treatment. Diagnosis is based on simple actions:

  1. Eye examination with hyphema
  2. Measurement of pressure inside the eyes with a special tonometer
  3. Determination of percent visual acuity
  4. Examination of the eye by a hardware method (an ophthalmic microscope is used).

Before treating a hyphema, it is necessary to accurately establish the causes of its appearance and eliminate the external factors that caused such a pathology, such as:

  • Cancellation of hemato-thinning drugs (if their appointment took place)
  • Vitamin deficiency, if any
  • Ophthalmic infections
  • Bad habits, especially heavy smoking

However, if the hyphema occupies up to 1/3 of the segment of the iris, its resorption is only a matter of time. To speed up this process, 3% drops of potassium iodide and drugs designed to reduce intraocular pressure (Azopt, Timolol, Latanoprost) are used.

If the course of the hyphema is complicated, surgical intervention is indicated.

Hemophthalmos

The normal vitreous body is a gel of ideal transparency, in which the light flux passing through the aperture of the pupil and focused by the lens must freely reach the retina in the posterior hemisphere of the eye. Any extraneous inclusions, including blood, interfere with the passage of light, causing sensations of an obstacle of varying degrees of density and opacity before the eyes.

Cases of hemorrhage into the vitreous body, or, are most often associated with painful inflammation of the retina. More precisely, with ruptures of microvessels lining this inner hemisphere under light-sensitive elements.

The reasons

Vessel ruptures are possible from:

  • Contusion impact (a strong blow to the head with symptoms of a concussion) against the background of intracranial pressure caused by such an impact, which goes far beyond the normal range.
  • Rupture of the membranes of the eye from a penetrating wound
  • Thrombi in retinal vessels
  • Retinal vascular anomalies
  • Hematopathology associated with low clotting
  • hypertensive crises
  • Diabetes
  • Oncological problems of the eye.
  • An abrupt increase in pressure in the sternum from coughing, childbirth, with severe vomiting spasms, exorbitant power loads, sneezing).

There are no nerve receptors in the vitreous gel, so a person with hemophthalmos does not experience pain. Hemophthalmos can manifest itself only in the form of a fall in vision, sometimes to complete blindness.

Kinds

These hemorrhages are:

  • Total, when the internal volume of the eye is filled with blood by more than ¾. They almost always occur as a result of a traumatic effect on the eye. They are characterized by blindness with the presence of light perception, but without distinguishing the details of the surrounding world.
  • Subtotal, with a volume of filling with blood from 1/3 to ¾. The most common cause is diabetic vascular disease. At the same time, vision is the distinction between silhouettes and general contours of objects.
  • Partial, with a lesion volume of less than 1/3. It is observed in cases of the onset of retinal detachment, with arterial hypertension or progressive diabetes. Manifestations - black dots, a red stripe or a red veil in the eyes.

Treatment

The tactics of treatment, with the exception of acute cases, are usually expectant, because hemophthalmia in a non-severe form resolves without any noticeable treatment with constant medical supervision to allow intervention in case of complications. It is better to simply speed up the process of blood resorption by prescribing appropriate drugs. But in order to avoid frequent complications, seeking medical help is mandatory.

At critical moments, with the ineffectiveness of traditional methods of treatment, surgical intervention is required. Most often it is carried out in the form when the vitreous body is removed partially or completely. The operation is shown when:

  1. Hemophthalmos, when it has already occurred or started, and it is impossible to either investigate this process or establish the cause of its onset.
  2. No improvement within 2-3 weeks after injury
  3. In a non-traumatic case, there is no regression of hemorrhage for 2-3 weeks
  4. Hemophthalmos occurred due to a wound with damage to the outer shell of the eye.

Hemorrhages in the retina

They can be considered as local cases of hemophthalmia - without blood filling of the volume of the eye that occupies the vitreous body. But there are also differences, characterized by the forefront of hemorrhages and their effects on vision.

Types of lesions depending on the place of ruptures and the place occupied by spilled blood:

  1. Streaky hemorrhages. Localization - the thickness of the retina. They look like winding clear stripes. Extensive ruptures of blood vessels with such hemorrhage are not observed.
  2. Rounded. They are often located deeper than dashed ones, they look like clearly defined circles.
  3. Preretinal. Localization of the location - the lower layers of the vitreous gel, located close to the retina. They are clearly divided into formed elements and blood plasma, they cover the vessels located below that feed the retina from view.
  4. Subretinal. They are located below the level of the retina. Their contours are always blurred due to the fact that the vessels are located above the rupture sites.

Symptoms are characterized by a sudden drop in visual acuity, and often in a certain sector of the visual field, where there is a local spot of vascular damage. There is no pain or other discomfort.

Diagnosis is simple and inexpensive, carried out by an ophthalmologist in a clinic with standard equipment for such cases. The clarity of vision, its fields by sectors are determined, a computed tomogram is taken (if possible and with the availability of equipment). To assess the condition of the vessels, angiography can be performed - fluorescent substances can be used for diagnosis.

Treatment

To eliminate the risk of vision loss, the disease is treated in a hospital. Treatment is carried out in two possible ways:

  1. conservative
  2. using laser coagulation.

The first method, using:

  • Corticosteroid agents
  • Angioprotectors
  • Antioxidants
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Diuretics
  • Drugs that control pressure inside the eye

Laser coagulation is used during extensive retinal hemorrhages, when traditional therapeutic methods do not give the desired effect or there is a possibility that there will be complications.

Prevention of bleeding in the eye

Due to the unpredictability of the pathologies described, it will not be possible to completely protect against this disease. But you can significantly reduce the risks, first of all, by giving up smoking and drinking alcohol, as well as eliminating the exorbitant load on the eyes. The second risk factor is usually excessive exercise when there are signs of vascular fragility. Then comes a weak immune system and diabetes mellitus with insulin dependence. When the first signs of pathologies appear, a visit to the ophthalmologist's office should be taken as a rule, at least once a year.

Conclusion

The passage of medical examinations should become the rule - especially if there are prerequisites for the occurrence of pathologies associated with eye hemorrhages of all kinds. This is especially true for people aged who begin to degrade changes in the eye protein associated with the optical conductivity of light in the eye. You can extend the period of creative and physical activity only by monitoring your health and contacting specialized ophthalmologists in time.

Up to 90% of information about the world around a person receives with the help of the organ of vision. The eye is a very sensitive organ, the eyes must be protected and treated with attention to injuries and damage. Hemorrhage in the eye can occur at any age and for a variety of reasons. When is this a sign of pathology, and when can you do without a doctor? Why do complications develop, and can this be avoided?

First of all, hemorrhage is not a separate disease, but a symptom, sometimes indicating the presence of vascular or visual analyzer disease. If the pathology occurs against the background of injury or physical activity and is not accompanied by severe pain or visual impairment, then this situation is usually not dangerous. If additional symptoms are observed and the hemorrhage does not go away, you cannot do without the help of an ophthalmologist. Treatment depends solely on the cause of the problem and is prescribed only after the examination.

Types of hemorrhage in the eye

Hemorrhage is damage to blood vessels, most often the smallest - capillaries. It leads to redness, the intensity of which does not depend on the degree of damage, but on the localization of vascular rupture.

According to the part of the eye in which the hemorrhage occurred, there are four types:

  1. Hyphema. This is the name of the accumulation of blood between the cornea and the iris - this space is called the chamber of the eye. Most often occurs due to mechanical trauma with a blunt object. This type of hemorrhage is accompanied by severe pain, as well as visual impairment. With the development of hyphema, urgent help from an ophthalmologist is required, otherwise complications are possible.
  2. Hemophthalmos. This is the name of a hemorrhage localized in the vitreous body. The main symptom is a hazy haze before the eyes, which does not disappear when blinking. If a lot of blood accumulates, then complete loss of vision is possible. This type of hemorrhage is considered the most severe and dangerous. Vision loss may be irreversible, and the chance of a cure depends on the speed with which medical care is provided.
  3. Subconjunctival hemorrhage is caused by damage to the mucosal vasculature. These hemorrhages often occur for no apparent reason, they can develop against the background of chronic diseases of the eye or blood vessels.
  4. The accumulation of blood in the retinal area occurs due to damage to the vessels of the retina. This area of ​​the eye is the most sensitive and susceptible to injury. A small hemorrhage is enough to develop a permanent visual impairment.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hemorrhage also vary depending on the location of the damage.

When a hyphema occurs, the following characteristic clinical picture develops:

  • A red spot with even edges appears in the eye, it is evenly colored.
  • The degree of color of the spot varies depending on the position of the body - lying or standing. This is because blood can flow inside the anterior chamber of the eye.
  • There is no loss of vision.
  • In the absence of help, the hemorrhage resolves on its own within a few days.

Symptoms of hemophthalmia are very different:

  • Externally, the hemorrhage is manifested by the presence of a brown spot with a uniform color.
  • There is visual impairment. The severity depends on how badly the mucosa is damaged. With total hemophthalmos, complete loss of vision can develop.
  • Flashes appear before the eyes, dark spots appear, often changing shape and size.

Hemophthalmos requires medical attention, because among the possible complications are retinal detachment and eye atrophy. And with surgical treatment, you can save vision.

Symptoms of retinal hemorrhage:

  • A grid appears before the eyes, moving dots appear - flies.
  • Items look blurry.
  • Decreased visual acuity. Rarely does vision disappear completely.

It occurs against the background of contusion of the orbit (which is often the result of severe injuries in the eye area), as well as against the background of vasculitis and some systemic diseases.

If a lot of blood accumulates during a hemorrhage, a condition such as exophthalmos develops. The eyeballs begin to protrude forward, the patient feels a restriction in the movement of the eye. If blood finds an outlet, it may protrude under the eyelid and into the conjunctival sac.

There are symptoms that indicate specific damage and are used in diagnosis. For example, if the hemorrhage extends to the skin and resembles the frame of glasses, this indicates a fracture of the base of the skull.

The reasons

The reasons are different:

  • Injuries to the eye, orbit or skull. Especially dangerous are blunt strong blows to the head. After receiving such an injury (even in the absence of symptoms), it is necessary to undergo an examination by an ophthalmologist.
  • Infectious viral diseases. Hemorrhage occurs due to inflamed mucosa.
  • Development of a hypertensive crisis. A rapid increase in blood pressure can lead to a violation of the integrity of the vessels. Especially often this happens to the elderly or in patients suffering from diabetes or autoimmune diseases.
  • Vomiting and severe coughing (physical overexertion) can lead to a small hemorrhage. Despite the fact that redness of the eye can be severe, the condition is not classified as dangerous.
  • Taking medications that reduce blood viscosity. These include the popular pain reliever and antipyretic, aspirin, which is often taken in large doses and without a doctor's prescription.
  • Vitamin K deficiency. This is a rare pathology. Vitamin K is produced by the intestinal microbiota, and most often the deficiency develops after massive antibiotic therapy or in chronic diseases of the immune system or the gastrointestinal tract.
  • An inherited bleeding disorder is hemophilia.

The risk increases significantly in the presence of any chronic pathologies of the heart, blood vessels and internal organs, as well as in the first few weeks after eye surgery.

Bleeding can occur in children of any age, from newborns to teenagers. The reasons are basically the same as in adults.

When to see a doctor immediately:

  • Redness appeared simultaneously in both eyes. This may be a sign of a serious circulatory disorder.
  • Loss or reduction of vision in one or both eyes due to redness.
  • Hemorrhage is accompanied by a haze before the eyes, which does not go away for several minutes or after blinking.
  • Redness is accompanied by severe pain and impaired visual function.
  • The hemorrhage was the result of an injury. It is often difficult to determine the actual severity of the injuries due to shock.
  • Redness appeared on the background of taking anticoagulants.

If the hemorrhage is not accompanied by the listed symptoms, it is subconjunctival, and the patient knows the cause, then it is not necessary to consult a doctor. An ophthalmologist is worth a visit if the redness does not go away within a few days.

What not to do with a hemorrhage:

  1. Rubbing your eyes is not recommended as this will cause irritation that can mask symptoms and in some cases it can increase bleeding.
  2. Instill vasoconstrictors before consulting a specialist.
  3. Wear contact lenses.
  4. Do not stop taking anticoagulants on your own. It is necessary to report the hemorrhage to the attending physician.

In the event of a hemorrhage in the eye, in any case, it is necessary to give the eyes a rest, not to strain, to avoid physical exertion until a visible improvement.

As for prevention, there are no special measures that can protect against hemorrhage. Patients suffering from systemic diseases should take prescribed drugs and follow lifestyle recommendations. Patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension should be observed by an ophthalmologist and attend preventive examinations.

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