Red Spots In The Eyes: Why Do They Occur?

Although red spots in the eyes cause concern and fear in those who suffer from them, in most cases they have to do with benign processes that do not put health at risk. They almost always disappear on their own, after the days go by.

Red spots in the eyes are also known as ocular effusion, subconjunctival hemorrhage , or hyposphagmus. They occur when some capillaries or blood vessels break in an area of ​​the eye called the conjunctiva.

The red spots in the eyes look like this because the blood is lodged between two areas of the conjunctiva: the sclera and the bulbar. Although their appearance can certainly make an impression, the most common is that they do not represent a serious health problem.

In general, the red spots in the eyes appear without any blow or injury. In almost all cases, people realize that they have them when they look in the mirror, since they very rarely cause pain or cause blurred vision.

Red spots in the eyes

Red spots in the eyes are bleeds that appear on the white of the eye. They have a bright color and can be seen with the naked eye. As already noted, they correspond to the rupture of vessels or capillaries. The blood does not go to the outside because it remains lodged between two areas of the conjunctiva.

Although this symptom causes alarm due to its appearance, in principle, it is not a sign of something serious. These are almost always temporary injuries, which in most cases do not take more than a week to disappear. They should not be a reason for consulting the specialist, unless they occur very frequently.

The most common is that the red spots in the eyes are not accompanied by any other symptoms. They only warrant a visit to the ophthalmologist if there are signs of external bleeding, traces of blood in the iris, constant pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or the appearance of a bulge in the eye. In those cases, it may be a corneal effusion and requires immediate attention.

The conjunctiva

To better understand this symptom, it is necessary that we know some details about the conjunctiva. This is a very thin, elastic and transparent membrane that lines the white part of the eye, called the sclera  or sclera . It also covers the inner face of the eyelids.

The conjunctiva plays an important role in defense and protection of the eyes. In general terms, it constitutes a protective barrier against possible infections. Likewise, the conjunctiva is essential to provide the lubrication required by the cornea.

In the conjunctiva  there are a large number of blood vessels. These can eventually rupture and cause small bleeding that seeps into the white of the eye or sclera . When the amount of blood reaches a certain volume, the red spots appear in the eyes.

Why do red spots occur in the eyes?

Eye bleeds appear for many different reasons. In most cases, they are due to one or more of the following causes :

• Sudden increases in blood pressure : these occur when there is sneezing or a very strong cough that leads to the rupture of the capillaries.
• Trauma to the eye : Sometimes a small blow, or simply the act of vigorously rubbing the eyes, causes small spills of blood in this area.
• Some medications : some medications cause blood clotting to be disturbed and cause red spots to appear in the eyes.
• Concomitant diseases : only in a minority of cases, this type of bleeding is caused by high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus.

It is unlikely that a subconjunctival hemorrhage will compromise visual health or be a symptom of a serious disease. Most of the time, the sclera itself reabsorbs blood in no more than 10 days. For this reason, there are no standardized treatments to address this condition.

Other data to take into account

Usually the red spots in the eyes are very red and bright at first. As the days go by, the tone darkens and intensifies. Then, little by little, they begin to fade, until they disappear completely.

It is normal for the eye to present a yellowish coloration at the end of this process. The best thing to do during this period of time is not to sleep leaning on the left area of ​​the body and to avoid the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. In no case should the person self-medicate.

It is also not advisable to rub your eyes during this process, as this could increase bleeding. If what caused this benign injury was a blow, it is necessary to visit the doctor to determine its extent and consequences.