Spotting a bright red patch on the white of your eye can be unsettling. In most cases, it’s a small, harmless bleed called a subconjunctival haemorrhage. A tiny blood vessel has burst just under the eye’s clear surface (the conjunctiva), letting a thin layer of blood spread over the sclera. It often looks dramatic, but it’s usually painless, doesn’t affect vision, and clears on its own—much like a bruise—over one to three weeks.
This guide explains exactly what’s happening and why it occurs, how serious it is, what you can do at home today, and the typical recovery timeline. We’ll cover common triggers (from coughing or sneezing to rubbing the eye), who’s more likely to get it, when to seek medical advice or urgent care, and which problems it can be mistaken for. You’ll also find tips for prevention and tailored advice if you wear contacts, take blood thinners or have diabetes.
What is a burst blood vessel in the eye (subconjunctival haemorrhage)?
When people talk about a blood vessel bursting in the eye, they’re usually describing a subconjunctival haemorrhage. A tiny surface capillary breaks beneath the clear covering of the eye (the conjunctiva), letting a thin layer of blood spread over the white (sclera). The red patch can be small or quite broad, but the bleed sits on the surface—not in the eye—so vision stays normal and there’s typically no pain or discharge. Think of it like a visible bruise. It may follow rubbing, coughing or sneezing, and the trapped blood is reabsorbed over days to a couple of weeks.
Is a broken blood vessel in the eye serious?
Usually not. A subconjunctival haemorrhage looks dramatic but is typically harmless, painless, doesn’t affect vision and clears without treatment within days to a couple of weeks. It’s much like a bruise on the eye’s surface. See a doctor promptly if it follows eye injury, causes pain or vision changes, or if episodes are frequent—especially if you’re on blood thinners.
Signs and symptoms to expect
A subconjunctival haemorrhage typically shows as a bright, sharply outlined red patch on the white of the eye. Most people notice it in the mirror rather than by feel. Vision stays normal, and there’s usually no pain. Some experience a mild scratchy sensation or awareness of the eye, but it shouldn’t be genuinely uncomfortable.
- Common: Bright red patch on the sclera; mild irritation or itchiness; eyelid feels normal.
- Usually not present: Pain, light sensitivity, discharge, or blurred vision.
- As it settles: The red area may spread slightly then fade and change colour (like a bruise) over days to two weeks.
What causes a blood vessel to burst in your eye?
Most episodes happen when a tiny surface capillary gives way after a brief rise in venous pressure or minor trauma. Often there’s no single clear trigger. Everyday actions that strain or pressurise the head and neck can set off a subconjunctival haemorrhage.
- Sudden straining: Coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or straining on the toilet.
- Minor trauma or rubbing: Bumping, poking, or vigorously rubbing the eye.
- Effort and posture: Heavy lifting, pushing, or bending forward.
- Contact lens friction: Particularly with dryness or overwear.
- Injury or infection: Head/eye knocks or an eye infection can occasionally precede it.
- Sometimes no cause: Many cases arise spontaneously.
Risk factors and who is more likely to get it
Anyone can experience a subconjunctival haemorrhage, but some people are more prone to a blood vessel bursting in the eye. Risk rises with age and with conditions that affect small blood vessels or clotting. Medications and situations that increase surface friction on the eye also make it more likely.
- Older age: Especially 65+ years.
- Vascular conditions: High blood pressure or diabetes.
- Blood thinners: Such as warfarin or aspirin.
- Contact lenses and dryness: Friction increases risk.
- Bleeding/clotting disorders: Or frequent easy bruising.
- Recent eye surgery: Including cataract procedures.
How long does a burst blood vessel in the eye take to heal?
Most subconjunctival haemorrhages clear on their own within 1–2 weeks, with larger patches sometimes taking up to 3 weeks. It can look a little worse over the first day or two and then fades like a bruise, often shifting through orange/yellow as the blood is reabsorbed. There’s no specific treatment to speed healing. If the red patch isn’t improving after two weeks, hasn’t resolved by three weeks, or keeps recurring, arrange an eye check.
What to do at home right now
Most cases of a blood vessel bursting in the eye don’t need treatment. Aim to keep the eye comfortable and avoid further irritation while it heals naturally. These simple measures can help over the next few days.
- Use artificial tears: Lubricating eye drops can ease any scratchy or irritated feeling.
- Don’t rub your eye: Rubbing can worsen irritation or trigger a fresh surface bleed.
- Go easy with contact lenses: If the eye feels dry or irritated, switch to glasses until it settles; always keep lenses clean.
- Avoid extra straining where possible: Coughing, sneezing and heavy lifting can raise pressure briefly; take it easy if you can.
- Stay on your regular medicines: Do not stop blood thinners or aspirin without medical advice.
- Watch for change: The red patch may spread a little then fade like a bruise over 1–3 weeks; note any pain or vision changes.
When to see a doctor (and when to seek urgent care)
Most cases of a blood vessel bursting in the eye are harmless and settle without treatment. Still, it’s sensible to check in if something doesn’t fit the usual pattern, you have risk factors, or there are warning signs of a more serious eye problem.
See a doctor soon (within a few days) if:
- It keeps happening or you bruise/bleed easily elsewhere.
- It isn’t improving after 2 weeks or hasn’t cleared by 3 weeks.
- You’re on blood thinners (e.g. warfarin) and the bleed is large or recurrent.
- You have high blood pressure or diabetes, especially if episodes are frequent.
Seek urgent care now if:
- There’s eye injury/trauma or a foreign body.
- You have pain, light sensitivity or any vision change (blur, shadow, double vision).
- You see blood pooling inside the coloured part of the eye (possible hyphema).
- There’s significant discharge, swelling or severe redness, suggesting infection.
How it’s diagnosed and what else it could be
Doctors usually diagnose a subconjunctival haemorrhage by simply looking at the eye. They’ll ask about recent coughing, sneezing, rubbing or trauma, and medicines like blood thinners. A blood pressure check is common, especially if there’s easy bruising elsewhere. No scans or drops are typically needed. If a blood vessel bursting in the eye keeps happening, your clinician may order tests to look for a clotting issue or other underlying cause.
- Hyphema (internal eye bleeding): Blood pooling in front of the iris with pain or blurred vision — urgent assessment needed.
- Infection (conjunctivitis): Redness with significant discharge; may feel gritty.
- Trauma-related injury: After any eye blow, more serious eye/orbital damage must be ruled out.
- Other painful red eye causes: Pain, light sensitivity or vision changes suggest conditions other than a simple surface bleed.
Treatment options and follow-up if it keeps happening
A one-off subconjunctival haemorrhage rarely needs treatment beyond comfort drops. If a blood vessel keeps bursting in your eye, the goal is to find and manage the driver. Your clinician may review blood pressure, medicines and contact lens wear, and sometimes arrange blood tests for clotting issues if you bruise or bleed easily.
- Soothe symptoms: Artificial tears for irritation; avoid rubbing.
- Tackle triggers: Treat coughs, manage constipation, and go easy on heavy lifting.
- Check blood pressure: Diagnose and manage hypertension if present.
- Medication review: If you’re on blood thinners (e.g. warfarin, aspirin), don’t stop them; discuss dose/alternatives with your GP or specialist.
- Lens and dryness care: Optimise contact lens hygiene/fit; manage dry eye to reduce friction.
- Manage conditions: Keep diabetes well controlled.
- Escalate care: Recurrent, large or atypical bleeds warrant an optometrist/ophthalmologist review; trauma, pain or vision change needs urgent assessment.
Prevention tips to reduce future episodes
You can’t always prevent a subconjunctival haemorrhage, but you can reduce the chance of a blood vessel bursting in the eye by addressing triggers and vascular health. Simple, consistent habits matter—particularly if you wear contacts, take blood thinners, or have hypertension or diabetes.
- Avoid rubbing: use artificial tears for dryness/itch.
- Manage straining: treat cough/constipation; exhale during lifts.
- Contact lens habits: limit overwear, ensure hygiene, take breaks.
- Work with your GP: control blood pressure/diabetes and use blood thinners safely (don’t stop on your own).
Special situations: blood thinners, contact lenses and diabetes
Some people need tailored advice. If you’re on blood thinners, wear contact lenses or have diabetes, you’re slightly more prone to a burst vessel. It’s still usually harmless; use the tips below and seek advice if episodes recur.
- Blood thinners: More chance of larger or repeat bleeds. Don’t stop warfarin, aspirin or similar without advice. Frequent bleeds need review; pain or vision change needs urgent care.
- Contact lenses: Dryness and friction raise risk. Switch to glasses until it settles, use lubricating drops, keep lenses clean, and review fit if recurrences occur.
- Diabetes: Diabetes and high blood pressure increase risk. Keep glucose and BP controlled; recurrent cases deserve a GP or eye specialist review.
FAQs: stroke risk, flying, exercise, driving and contagion
Quick answers to common worries about a blood vessel bursting in the eye. It’s a surface bruise that looks dramatic but is usually harmless. If episodes recur, especially with easy bruising, check your blood pressure and speak with your GP.
- Stroke risk: Not a stroke; monitor BP.
- Flying: Safe; delay if injury or visual symptoms.
- Exercise: Light ok; avoid heavy straining briefly.
- Driving: Fine if vision normal, no pain.
- Contagion: Not infectious/contagious.
What to remember
A burst blood vessel in the eye is usually a simple subconjunctival haemorrhage: dramatic to look at, harmless in most cases, and self-healing within 1–3 weeks. Comfort drops can ease irritation and avoiding rubbing helps. Seek medical care promptly if there’s pain, light sensitivity, vision change, injury, repeated episodes, or if you’re on blood thinners and the bleed is large or frequent.
If you’d like reassurance or a quick specialist opinion in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, our team at Bright Sight Eye Specialists is here to help.