Subconjunctival hemorrhage: Difference between revisions

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*Can be spontaneous or related to trauma
*Can be spontaneous or related to trauma
**Spontaneous can be secondary to [[anticoagulation]], [[coagulopathy|bleeding diathesis]], etc.
**Spontaneous can be secondary to [[anticoagulation]], [[coagulopathy|bleeding diathesis]], etc.
*If large and associated with [[ocular trauma|trauma]], need to maintain suspicion for occult [[globe rupture]] (obscured by hemorrhage)<ref name="Mahmood" />
*If large and associated with trauma, see [[hemorrhagic chemosis]]  
**Need to maintain suspicion for occult [[globe rupture]] (obscured by hemorrhage)<ref name="Mahmood" />
*Bilateral and recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhage should have bleeding diathesis workup
*Bilateral and recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhage should have bleeding diathesis workup



Revision as of 22:48, 1 March 2023

Background

  • Bleeding of the conjunctival vessels into the subconjunctival space
  • Can be spontaneous or related to trauma
  • If large and associated with trauma, see hemorrhagic chemosis
  • Bilateral and recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhage should have bleeding diathesis workup

Clinical Features

Subconjunctival hemorrhage
Subconjunctival hemorrhage
  • Painless
  • No effect on vision
  • May recall a history of mild trauma or valsalva
  • Examination
    • Fresh red blood on a white sclera with clear borders[1]
    • Masks the conjunctival vessels
  • Not significantly raised (see hemorrhagic chemosis if large amount raised)

Differential Diagnosis

Unilateral red eye

^Emergent diagnoses ^^Critical diagnoses

Evaluation

  • Clinical diagnosis
  • Consider fluorescein staining to evaluate for corneal injury if suggested by history or if patient complains of pain[1]

Management

  • Reassurance (will generally resolve within 10-14d)[1]

See Also

External Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mahmood, Ahmed R., and Aneesh T. Narang. "Diagnosis and management of the acute red eye." Emergency medicine clinics of North America 26.1 (2008): 35-55.