Subconjunctival hemorrhage

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Background

  • Bleeding of the conjunctival vessels into the subconjunctival space
  • Can be spontaneous or related to trauma
    • Spontaneous can be secondary to anticoagulation, bleeding diathesis, etc.
  • If large and associated with trauma, need to maintain suspicion for occult Globe rupture (obscured by hemorrhage)[1]
  • Bilateral and recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhage should have bleeding diathesis workup

Clinical Features

Subconjunctival hemorrhage
  • Painless
  • No effect on vision
  • May recall a history of mild trauma or valsalva
  • Examination
    • Fresh red blood on a white sclera with clear borders[1]
    • Masks the conjunctival vessels

Differential Diagnosis

Unilateral Red Eye

^Emergent diagnoses

^^Critical diagnoses

Evaluation

  • Clinical diagnosis
  • Consider fluorescein staining to evaluate for corneal injury if suggested by history or if patient complains of pain[1]

Management

  • Reassurance (will generally resolve within 10-14d)[1]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mahmood, Ahmed R., and Aneesh T. Narang. "Diagnosis and management of the acute red eye." Emergency medicine clinics of North America 26.1 (2008): 35-55.