eMedicine Specialties > Ophthalmology > Conjunctiva

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage: Follow-up

Author: Robert H Graham, MD, Senior Associate Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona
Coauthor(s): Vivian Monsanto, MD, Consulting Staff, The Mackool Eye Institute and Laser Center; Norvin Perez, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 3, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • With time and blood breakdown, the hemorrhage may become green or yellow, like a bruise, spreading around the circumference of the globe. Usually, this disappears within 2 weeks.
  • Patients are told to return if the blood does not fully resolve or if they have a recurrence.

Prognosis

  • The prognosis is excellent.

Patient Education

Miscellaneous

Special Concerns

  • The occurrence of subconjunctival hemorrhage in an eye after scleral buckle indicates buckle infection until proven otherwise even if the surgery was performed years before. Usually, there is focal tenderness somewhere over the buckle.
 


More on Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

Overview: Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Treatment & Medication: Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Follow-up: Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
References
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References

  1. American Academy of Ophthalmology. External disease and cornea. In: Basic and Clinical Science Course. Vol 8. American Academy of Ophthalmology; 1995:292.

  2. Bodack MI. A warfarin-induced subconjunctival hemorrhage. Optometry. Mar 2007;78(3):113-8. [Medline].

  3. Fraunfelder FT. Drug Induced Ocular Side Effects and Drug Interactions. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1989.

  4. Friberg TR, Weinreb RN. Ocular manifestations of gravity inversion. JAMA. Mar 22-29 1985;253(12):1755-7. [Medline].

  5. Knopf HL, Carter K, Prokopius MJ. Recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhage. Compr Ophthalmol Update. May-Jun 2006;7(3):155-6. [Medline].

  6. Pong JC, Lam DK, Lai JS. Spontaneous subconjunctival haemorrhage secondary to carotid-cavernous fistula. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. Jan-Feb 2008;36(1):90-1. [Medline].

  7. Quezada AA, Shields CL, Wagner RS, Demirci H, Caputo AR, Shields JA. Lymphangioma of the conjunctiva and nasal cavity in a child presenting with diffuse subconjunctival hemorrhage and nosebleeds. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. May-Jun 2007;44(3):180-2. [Medline].

  8. Rhee DJ. Subconjunctival hemorrhage. In: Wills Eye Manual: Office & Emergency Room Diagnosis & Treatment of Eye Disease. 3rd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:130-131.

  9. Russell SR, Olsen KR, Folk JC. Predictors of scleral rupture and the role of vitrectomy in severe blunt ocular trauma. Am J Ophthalmol. Mar 15 1988;105(3):253-7. [Medline].

  10. Shields SR. Managing eye disease in primary care. Part 2. How to recognize and treat common eye problems. Postgrad Med. Oct 2000;108(5):83-6, 91-6. [Medline].

  11. Spitzer SG, Luorno J, Noël LP. Isolated subconjunctival hemorrhages in nonaccidental trauma. J AAPOS. Feb 2005;9(1):53-6. [Medline].

  12. van Heuven WAJ. Subconjunctival hemorrhage. In: Decision Making in Ophthalmology: An Algorithmic Approach. Mosby-Year Book; 2000:66-67.

  13. Wirbelauer C. Management of the red eye for the primary care physician. Am J Med. Apr 2006;119(4):302-6. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

subconjunctival hemorrhage, red eye, bleeding in eye, blood in eye

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert H Graham, MD, Senior Associate Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona
Robert H Graham, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, and Arizona Ophthalmological Society
Disclosure: WebMD/eMedicine Salary Employment

Coauthor(s)

Vivian Monsanto, MD, Consulting Staff, The Mackool Eye Institute and Laser Center
Vivian Monsanto, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Norvin Perez, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center
Norvin Perez, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Kilbourn Gordon III, MD, FACEP, Urgent Care Physician
Kilbourn Gordon III, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

J James Rowsey, MD, Former Director of Corneal Services, St Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute, Florida
J James Rowsey, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Medical Association, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Florida Medical Association, Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, Sigma Xi, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Lance L Brown, OD, MD, Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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