Blood Vessel in the Eye

[Amy247]

My question is,  why do the vessels bust in your eye? And I went 4 days of having a headache and then the next morning my eye was fine and then I got in the shower and while brushing my teeth I notice red in my eye, to my shock it was bloody and at the bottom of my right eye, I've never had this before and didn't know why it happened. As the day went on my eye started to hurt and I started to get another headache.  Could my eye and headache to related??

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear Amy247,

I am assuming that the vessels that you are describing are those located in the mucous membrane outside of the eye, covering the white part of the eye. Subconjunctival hemorrhages may result from trauma to the eye, bleeding disorders, heavy lifting. coughing, sneezing, vomiting, medications which reduce clotting time such as aspirin, coumadin and plavix and nonmedication herbs such as gingko, St. John’s wort, ginger, garlic, and diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

They are probably unrelated - but possible related in a distant way.  This is called a subconunctival hemorrhage and can be caused by coughing, sneezing, hard straining, and eye rubbing.  Sometimes occurs for no apparent reason.  Usually totally painless.  Often, worsened by taking aspirin or other blood thinners.  You should go ahead and see an ophthalmologist since you have some associated headaches.  Ophthalmologists are medical doctors first (before eye specialty training) so they can often find clues from your medical history and findings to help in situations like this.

MJK MD