Recurring Subconjunctival Hemorhage

[Dave L]

Since the spring of 2009, I've had about a half dozen subconjunctival hemorhages in my right eye and in approxitemately the same location. I've gone to my opthamologist and my regular family doctor and they don't seem too concerned about this at all. I, nor the doctors, have not been able to isolate a cause or even the exact blood vessel that is breaking. I realize that according to just about everything I've read on the internet, they are not a sign of a serious condition but my concerns are two fold... First, the frequency and number of these hemorhages. Could this be an indication that I may suffer from an an aneurism or stroke? Has there been any research into whether people who experience these seemingly harmless hemorhages do sometimes fall victim to these major life threatening conditions?... My other concern is my appearance. Some of my coworkers can't even look at me when I get the hemorhages since they say I like like some sort of demon. When I'm out and about, I don't see any folks with this condition but yet the internet (and the doctors) make it seem that these things are so common. So, the bottom line to my question... Should I be worried or should I just deal with it?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Colloidal silver eye drops should be avoided. It has not been shown to be helpful for recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhage but it HAS been shown to permanently discolor the surface of the eye and eyelid a "tarnished sliver" appearance. We rarely see this anymore as these silver drops are rarely used in modern countries, thank goodness.

JCH MD

[thiagorulez]

Maybe colloidal silver drops might help? I'm honestly just bouncing around sites right now; my brother is having a similar issue and research is slow. Nice to have a doctor posting here, though!

[Dave L]

Thank you for the easing my anxiety over this. I guess since you're a doctor, you see folks with this condition much more than the average person. I rarely see anyone with it, so to me (and my friends and coworkers as well), it seemed that it was an unfamiliar and scary sight. Anyway, thanks again and take care!

Dave

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

When one of our daughters was young she had bad problems with recurrent nosebleeds. She had all kinds of tests and everything was normal. It was always the same nostril. Finally the ENT that was taking care of her saw the bleeding spot and cauterized it and that took care of the problems. His explanation was just very thin delicate blood vessels that never entirely healed.

The nosebleeds were not serious just annoying and embarressing for her. Your problem is much the same.  Your problem does not increase the risk of stroke, etc. The problem is so common one day last week I saw three people in the same day with subconjunctival hemorrhage all healthy young people with no idea how or why it happened.

JCHMD

[Dave L]

Thank you very much for your response. I never had any other symptoms of having thin blood. In other words, I've had no experiences of excessive bleeding. I am not on any type of blood thnner. The only drug that I am taking daily is simavastin (20 mg). My doctor seems to think that it is something that I am doing, perhaps subconsciously, that is causing them to occur. But why do they always occur in the same location in the same eye? If it was something that I was doing to bring them on, then wouldn't my other eye be impacted as well? I have been concerned that I might be predisposed to some other more serious life threatening conditon, such as aneurisms, strokes, etc that have not been properly documented in patients that have experienced these conditions. However, your response has made be feel better about my situation. Again, I appreciate your time.
Dave

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It's not that uncommon. One of my neighbors, a general surgeon, had five or six of these in one year. Very exasperated. No serious cause eventually stopped.


It might not hurt to do a coagulation panel of blood tests to be sure you don't have thin blood. If the bleeding vessel can be identified then cauthery can be done.

JCH MD