Why does my toddler have a broken blood vessel in her eye?

Sometimes small blood vessels in the white of the eye can break, causing a red spot or speck. This is called a subconjunctival hemorrhage. The blood vessels may break when your child sneezes, coughs, vomits, strains, or bends over. Sometimes there is no clear cause.

Is a burst blood vessel in the eye anything to worry about?

A subconjunctival hemorrhage often occurs without any obvious harm to your eye. Even a strong sneeze or cough can cause a blood vessel to break in the eye. You don’t need to treat it. A subconjunctival hemorrhage may look alarming, but it’s usually a harmless condition that disappears within two weeks or so.

What causes blood vessels to pop in eye?

The exact cause of subconjunctival hemorrhage is currently unknown. However, sudden increases in blood pressure from violent coughing, powerful sneezing, heavy lifting, or even intense laughing may generate enough force to cause a small blood vessel in your eye to burst.

Can babies pop a blood vessel in their eye?

Although they can happen to people of all ages, it is common for newborns to get subconjunctival hemorrhages. Their occurrence is common in infants due to stressful and traumatic deliveries. Changing and forceful pressure during birth can cause eye blood vessels to burst.

What do you do for a popped blood vessel in your eye?

With all the possible causes, there is only one treatment for a burst blood vessel – time! Subconjunctival hemorrhages generally treat themselves, as the conjunctiva slowly absorbs the blood over time. Think of it like a bruise on the eye. Expect a full recovery within two weeks, without any long-term complications.

Can you burst a blood vessel in your eye from crying?

Stress won’t cause a blood vessel to burst, but things associated with stress – especially crying – are common causes of subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Is subconjunctival hemorrhage an emergency?

Key points about subconjunctival hemorrhage A subconjunctival hemorrhage is when a blood vessel breaks in the white of the eye. It causes a bright red patch in the white of the eye. It may look alarming. But it is generally harmless.

What causes blood vessels in the eye to pop?

Rapid increases in blood pressure, violent coughing, powerful sneezing, heavy lifting, or even intense laughing, could be to blame. Additionally, severe eye infections, eye or eyelid surgery, roughly rubbing an eye, or the use of blood-thinning medications or even aspirin, can all cause a blood vessel to erupt.

When to see an eye doctor for a popped blood vessel?

Sometimes eyes are bloodshot and there isn’t really a broken blood vessel. However, if you don’t remember coughing or sneezing or doing anything else shortly before the popped blood vessel appeared, it’s a good idea to speak to an optometrist or eye doctor.

What do you call a broken blood vessel in the eye?

Subconjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessel in eye) Print. A subconjunctival hemorrhage (sub-kun-JUNK-tih-vul HEM-uh-ruj) occurs when a tiny blood vessel breaks just underneath the clear surface of your eye (conjunctiva). The conjunctiva can’t absorb blood very quickly, so the blood gets trapped.

When do blood vessels break in a child?

This is called a subconjunctival hemorrhage. The blood vessels may break when your child sneezes, coughs, vomits, strains, or bends over. Sometimes there is no clear cause. The blood may look alarming, especially if the spot is large.