Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators

Abstract

Subconjunctival hemorrhage is a benign disorder that is a common cause of acute ocular redness. The major risk factors include trauma and contact lens usage in younger patients, whereas among the elderly, systemic vascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis are more common. In patients in whom subconjunctival hemorrhage is recurrent or persistent, further evaluation, including workup for systemic hypertension, bleeding disorders, systemic and ocular malignancies, and drug side effects, is warranted.

Keywords: contact lens; hypertension; red eye; subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Figure 1

This patient with diffuse subconjunctival hemorrhage had uncontrolled hypertension.

Figure 2

This massive subconjunctival hemorrhage accompanied acute intralesional bleeding of an orbital arteriovenous malformation following strenuous physical exercise.

Figure 3

Traumatic subconjunctival hemorrhage involving the nasal half of the bulbar conjunctiva caused by soft contact lens wear.

Figure 4

An island of yellow discoloration on the nasal part of the bulbar conjunctiva indicating absorption of the subconjunctival hemorrhage.