Understanding the Different Types of blood clots in the eye
Discovering a blood clot in your eye can be a startling experience. Your first thought might be: “Is this serious?” The answer, like many things in health, is “it depends.” While a small, harmless blood clot on the surface of your eye is quite common, other types of eye bleeding can indeed be dangerous and require immediate medical attention.
Bleeding inside the eye, or intraocular hemorrhage, can occur in various locations, and its severity depends heavily on where it happens.
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage (SCH): This is the most frequent type of eye blood clot and, fortunately, the least serious. It occurs when tiny blood vessels beneath the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white part of your eye) break and leak blood. This causes a bright red or dark red patch on the white of the eye. While it can look dramatic, a SCH is usually painless and doesn’t affect your vision. It’s essentially like a bruise on the eye and typically resolves on its own within one to two weeks as the blood is reabsorbed by the body.
Retinal Hemorrhage: This is a more serious type of bleeding. Here, the blood spots appear on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye crucial for vision. A retinal hemorrhage can be caused by various factors, including blockage of a retinal vein (retinal vein occlusion), diabetic retinopathy (a complication of diabetes affecting the eyes), or high blood pressure. Unlike a subconjunctival hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhages can lead to blurred vision, floaters (dark spots in your field of vision), or even sudden vision loss, depending on the severity and location. Prompt medical attention is essential in these cases.
Vitreous Hemorrhage: This involves bleeding into the vitreous humour, the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the eye. Vitreous hemorrhage can cause blurred vision, floaters, or a red tint to your vision. This can be caused by a variety of conditions, including trauma, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, or retinal vein occlusions.
Submacular and Subretinal Hemorrhage: These involve bleeding beneath or within the layers of the retina, particularly the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. These types of hemorrhage can significantly affect central vision and can be caused by conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or trauma.
Causes of Eye Blood Clots
Understanding the cause of the bleeding helps determine the severity and the necessary course of action.
Common Causes of Subconjunctival Hemorrhage:
Physical Strain: Forceful coughing, sneezing, straining, or heavy lifting can cause the tiny blood vessels in the conjunctiva to rupture.
Eye Trauma: Even minor injuries or vigorous eye rubbing can lead to bleeding on the eye’s surface.
Medical Conditions: High blood pressure or diabetes can make blood vessels more fragile and susceptible to breakage.
Blood-Thinning Medications: Certain medications like aspirin or anticoagulants can increase the risk of bleeding.
Causes of Retinal and Deeper Hemorrhages:
Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO): A blockage in the retinal veins, often associated with hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Damaged blood vessels in the retina, a complication of diabetes.
Hypertensive Retinopathy: Damage to retinal blood vessels due to high blood pressure.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): The wet form of AMD can cause fragile blood vessels under the retina that can bleed.
Trauma: Severe eye or head injuries can cause bleeding within the eye.
Blood Clotting Disorders: Conditions like hemophilia or low platelet count can increase the risk of bleeding anywhere in the body, including the eye.
Retinal Tears or Detachment: When the retina tears or pulls away from the back of the eye, it can cause bleeding.
CAUTION:
If you notice red floaters in your vision or sudden blurring of vision, call us immediately for a retina check up.
Advanced Retina Care offers the latest treatment for blood clots in the eye.
