A “broken blood vessel” in the eye, medically a subconjunctival haemorrhage, happens when a tiny capillary under the clear surface (conjunctiva) bursts, leaving a bright red patch on the white of the eye. It often follows a cough, sneeze or rubbing, usually doesn’t hurt, doesn’t affect vision and, like a bruise, clears on its own.
This guide explains when treatment is needed (usually it isn’t), how long healing takes, ways to soothe irritation, what to avoid while it settles, and safety around work, exercise or flying. We’ll also cover warning signs that need urgent care, advice if you wear contacts or take blood thinners, and where to get help in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
Do you need treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye?
In most cases, the answer is simple: no specific treatment is needed. A subconjunctival haemorrhage clears on its own, and you don’t need antibiotics or “redness relief” drops. If the eye feels gritty or itchy, preservative‑free artificial tears can soothe the surface. There’s no proven way to speed up the body’s natural clearing of the blood. See a professional if you also have pain, vision changes, discharge or the redness followed an eye injury. If episodes keep happening, your doctor may check your blood pressure and consider blood tests or a medication review (especially if you’re on blood thinners).
How long it takes to heal and what to expect
Most subconjunctival haemorrhages clear on their own within 1–2 weeks; some settle in just a few days, while larger patches can take closer to three weeks. There’s no proven way to speed it up — the body gradually re‑absorbs the blood, much like a bruise, without needing active treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye.
What you’ll notice is the colour changing as it heals — bright red to maroon, then yellowish before disappearing. Vision should stay normal and there’s typically no pain, though mild itch or grittiness can occur. The blood sits under the conjunctiva, so it won’t move around or wipe away. Seek care promptly if pain or vision changes develop.
Safe home care to soothe the eye
Comfort care is the main treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye. You can’t speed it up, but you can ease irritation and protect the surface if there’s no pain, vision change or injury. Most people feel better with simple steps.
- Lubricating drops: Use preservative‑free artificial tears as needed to soothe dryness or grittiness.
- Cool compress: Place a clean, cool compress over closed lids for a few minutes; don’t press on the eye.
- Sunglasses and rest: Wear sunglasses outdoors and take brief screen breaks to reduce irritation.
What not to do while it heals
As the haemorrhage fades, treat the eye gently to avoid irritation or another small bleed. Time does the healing; there’s no need for special drops or antibiotics. Keep taking prescribed blood thinners unless your doctor says otherwise. If pain, light sensitivity or blurred vision develop, stop self‑care and seek professional advice.
- Don’t rub or press on the eye.
- Don’t wear contact lenses until the eye is white and comfortable again.
- Avoid heavy lifting or hard straining (including forceful bending) for a day or two.
Everyday activities: can I work, exercise or fly?
If your vision is normal and there’s no pain, you can usually continue everyday activities. Desk work and study are fine. Light to moderate exercise (walking, gentle cycling) is safe; avoid heavy lifting, hard straining or inverted poses for a day or two, as these can raise pressure and may have triggered the bleed. Flying is generally okay with an uncomplicated subconjunctival haemorrhage, as the bleed is superficial; if it followed eye injury or surgery, or you develop pain or blurred vision, seek advice before you fly or resume training. This doesn’t change the treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye — time and comfort care.
When to seek medical care urgently
Most subconjunctival haemorrhages are harmless, but certain symptoms mean you should be seen promptly. Trust your instincts—if anything feels different from the “painless red patch” story, get same‑day advice from your optometrist, GP or an eye specialist.
- Eye pain or marked light sensitivity: This isn’t typical and can signal another problem (for example, hyphema).
- Any change in vision: Blurred, dim or distorted vision needs assessment.
- Recent eye injury or head trauma: Even minor trauma warrants an eye check.
- After recent eye surgery: Call your surgical team or seek urgent review.
- Frequent episodes or easy bruising/bleeding: See your GP to check blood pressure and consider blood tests.
- If you’re on blood thinners and are concerned: Seek medical advice; do not stop medication unless your doctor tells you to.
- In children: Any injury‑related or unexplained red patch should be assessed.
If pain, vision changes or injury are present, treat this as urgent rather than waiting for it to fade.
Common causes and risk factors
A subconjunctival haemorrhage often has no clear cause. Typical triggers either briefly raise pressure in the veins or lightly irritate the eye’s surface. Identifying what set it off can help prevent repeats, though it rarely changes the simple treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye: time and comfort care.
- Common triggers: Coughing, sneezing, vomiting or straining (including on the toilet); rubbing the eye; minor knocks to the eye; lifting heavy objects, hard pushing or bending forward; contact lens handling.
- Risk factors: High blood pressure; diabetes; blood‑thinning medicines (for example warfarin or aspirin; occasionally interferon); blood‑clotting disorders; age over 65; contact lens wear; recent eye surgery.
Recurrence can happen even without obvious risk factors; if episodes are frequent, ask your GP to check blood pressure and consider further tests.
How doctors diagnose it and when tests are needed
Diagnosis is clinical: an optometrist, GP or ophthalmologist confirms a painless red patch confined to the conjunctiva by examining the eye. No tests are usually required, and treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye is simple comfort care. Your clinician may check blood pressure and review your medicines. Tests are considered if episodes are frequent, you bruise or bleed easily, or you take blood thinners—blood tests may be arranged to exclude a bleeding disorder. Pain, vision change or trauma prompt a more detailed eye exam.
If you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
Subconjunctival haemorrhages are more common if you’re on blood thinners (for example warfarin or aspirin) or have a clotting condition. The good news is the management is usually the same: time and comfort care. Do not stop prescribed medicines unless your doctor advises it. If bleeds are frequent, unusually large, or you also notice easy bruising or other bleeding, book a review — your GP may check blood pressure, reconsider medicines and arrange blood tests.
- Don’t stop blood thinners without medical advice.
- Arrange a check‑up for recurrent or large patches, or easy bruising/bleeding.
- Known bleeding disorder? Follow your care plan and contact your GP if bleeding increases.
- Urgent review if there’s pain, vision change or injury.
- Artificial tears and cool compresses are safe; avoid rubbing.
Contact lens wearers: extra precautions
Contact lens wear can irritate the conjunctiva and is a risk factor for subconjunctival haemorrhage. While it settles, the safest treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye is time and comfort care—plus a temporary break from lenses to protect the surface.
- Switch to glasses: until the eye is white and comfortable.
- Artificial tears: preservative‑free; don’t rub.
- Seek care: for pain, discharge, blurred vision, or repeats.
Children and eye injuries: what parents should know
In children, a bright red patch on the white of the eye is often a benign subconjunctival haemorrhage, but trauma is the most common trigger. If the redness follows any knock to the eye or head, get it checked. When there’s no pain or vision change, simple comfort care — preservative‑free artificial tears and “no rubbing” — is usually enough. Repeated episodes or bleeding/bruising elsewhere warrant a GP review. Older kids who wear contacts should switch to glasses until the eye is clear and comfortable.
- Seek same‑day care if there’s pain, light sensitivity or any change in vision.
- Injury‑related cases (even “minor”) should be assessed promptly.
- Infants and toddlers: get medical advice to be safe.
- Concerning history or bruises elsewhere: raise with your clinician.
- Contact lens wearers: stop lenses and seek help if there’s discharge or persistent discomfort.
Can it be prevented?
Many cases can’t be prevented, but you can reduce repeats: avoid rubbing; use preservative‑free artificial tears; keep contact lenses clean; manage blood pressure and diabetes. If episodes recur, see your GP to review medicines—don’t stop blood thinners without advice. Prevention doesn’t change treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye—time and comfort care.
Related conditions that can look similar
Not every red eye is a subconjunctival haemorrhage. The classic picture is a painless, sharply defined red patch with normal vision and no discharge. If your symptoms don’t fit that pattern, another condition may be responsible and often needs different care than the simple treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye.
- Hyphema: Blood pooling in front of the iris with pain, light sensitivity or blurred vision — urgent assessment.
- Infection or allergy: Diffuse redness with discharge or itch rather than a sharp patch — see your clinician.
- Injury‑related problems: Any redness after a knock to the eye or head warrants prompt eye examination.
- Contact lens complications: Pain, discharge or blurred vision in lens wearers — stop lenses and seek same‑day advice.
Getting help in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
In Randwick, Bright Sight Eye Specialists supports the Eastern Suburbs. If you’re unsure, have pain, vision changes or repeat episodes, book an assessment with your GP/optometrist or our team. Dr Rahul Dubey offers comprehensive eye care and will advise whether any treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye—or other care—is needed.
The bottom line
A subconjunctival haemorrhage looks dramatic but is usually harmless. For most people, the right treatment for a broken blood vessel in the eye is simply time plus comfort care: preservative‑free artificial tears, a cool compress and no rubbing. Expect the colour to fade over 1–2 weeks. You can generally work and exercise gently; avoid heavy straining for a day or two.
Seek prompt care if there’s pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, recent injury or frequent episodes, or if you’re on blood thinners and are concerned. For reassurance or an expert assessment in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, contact Bright Sight Eye Specialists.