Subconjunctival Haemorrhage

[MichaelJH]

I went to shave yesterday morning and when I looked in the mirror recoiled! Usually it is because I feel 21 and see an older man looking back at me!

No it was because the white of the left eye was red and a few other colours besides! I had a the odd speck or streak of blood a few times in the past but nothing like this. I managed to get an emergency appointment with the (cardio) GP so went over after lunch.

He confirmed it was s subconjunctival haemorrhage. This is leakage of blood from tiny blood vessels located underneath the thin, clear membrane (conjunctiva) that lies over the white of the eye (sclera). The problem is all the heart drugs can make the bleeding worse. It should clear in around two weeks and I am to go back if it does not, or if I get any pain and/or discharge. It's hard work this being a Heartie at times!

[Dovaston]

Interesting post Michael. I get bloodshot eyes which are worse on some days more than others. I am only on Aspirin as a blood thinner maybe I should follow this up. As I don't get irritation I have tended to leave it !

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Oh Michael newborn babies sometimes have subconjunctival hemorrhages too !

It can be a tight squeeze on arrival into the world.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Milkfairy]

😁

[Snowdrops_17]

Wow that must of been a bit of a shock that Michael. Pray it will subside sooner for you. 😊👍

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Snowdrops_17]

It was! I had a 'what now' reaction. Thank you for your kind thoughts. I image I looked cool in my shades 😎 as after a few 'what have you done to your eye' I felt I did not want to explain again!

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to MichaelJH]

You were right about heart meds. Looked it up, its blood thinning medication which can cause this to happen. Well I would wear shades if I could, got varifocals, so bit difficult wearing sunglasses Michael 😁

Hope it goes soon. 😊

[Sunnie2day in reply to Snowdrops_17]

I wear tri-focals and use those clip-on sunglasses. Work great and if you're willing to splash out a bit, you can find clip-ons that attach at the sides in the same shape as your 'daily wear'.

I got mine (2pr) when I finally found frames that didn't make me look like Harry Potter (I'm more a Hermoine sort of lady ). The things are easy to fit as the 'clips' aren't really clips but are more like non-abrasive hooks that wrap around your specs frame. The bridge of the sunnies stretches so fitting the sunglasses is quick and easy, much easier than the less expensive clip-ons that flip up but are generally such a pain to fit and use most people bin the things after a few wearings.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Where can you buy those clip on sun glasses Sunnie?

[Sunnie2day in reply to Snowdrops_17]

SpecSavers, Boots, any ophthalmologist who also fills prescriptions for specs, online using a search term for clip-on sunglasses - you will have to scroll through all sorts to find the ones that 'hug the frame' and it's worth the trouble if you wear specs and need sunglasses.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Sunnie2day]

So does it matter what shape or size your specs are or do hugging sunglasses fit them all ? Sunnie never bought sunglasses to clip on my specs, just went without as wear my specs all day. And how much do they cost please?

[Sunnie2day in reply to Snowdrops_17]

You shouldn't have any trouble finding these in the same or very close to the same shape as your spectacles - most optical shops (including Boots optical if you have one near by, if not you can find the sunglasses at their online optical shop) carry 'generic' pairs for after-market purchases, or you can go to the shop where you bought your last pair of glasses and ask the counter clerk if they carry the type.

Depending on your frame style the hugging type can cost from around £6-£30 - the Boots one cost around £20 last time I had a look-in but are worth the cost for quality.

The next time you replace your spectacles be sure to ask about frame matching clip-ons - a lot of optical shops will try to sell you prescription sunnies (they cost more so the shop clerks are 'encouraged' to up-sell) but all but the most 'budget' frames have matching clip-on sunglasses and if you purchase at the same time you're purchasing your frames, you should get a small discount.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thank you Sunnie 😁👍

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Did you see my post about the 'nix' styptic stick:

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

[cowparsley]

Gosh Michael,you must wonder sometimes whatever`s going on.Shades are cool and a doctor friend advises wearing sunglasses all the time to protect our eyes. Best of luck.

[Rosei]

The same thing happens to me quite often when I sneeze, I never seek help, I just presume that is normal.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Rosei]

I get it when my sinus' are blocked and I have a hard coughing spell. Not nice, and as others here have noted, it scares small children!

[HectorsDad]

Hi MichaelJH.

I get this frequently and have done for years- long before heart problems- every two or three months, with no pattern I can work out.

It is dramatic, weird, and scares small children😂,but VERY rarely significant. Unfortunately, once you have it once it is more likely to return. Worth mentioning it your optician next time, as it possible is made worse by eye strain etc, and suggests it’s time for new glasses ( and they can reliably spot the very rare cases when it indicates something more significant).

It’s unlikely to be caused by meds, but may be more dramatic looking. Lower blood pressure may make actually help prevent it.

Usually I don’t know it’s happened, my wife will tell me my ‘eye has popped again’. It tends to feel a bit gritty, so some eye drops for dry eyes are comfy (might sting a bit) and was advised not to use contact lenses for a day or two when it’s happened. Absolutely no reason to wear dark glasses for this ( apart from the small children bit😁).

I’d be more worried about the shaving! I leak like a sieve from the smallest nick now I’m on ticagrelor (‘ah Mr Reed, blood test today. We’ve bought some extra supplies of cotton wool in’). Haven’t shaved since my HA: initially just avoiding the hassle, but realised it would be sensible to avoid cutting myself. After 33 years of beardless marriage, my wife has decided she rather likes me bearded (frequently accompanied by jokes about the lack of hair on top these days).

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to HectorsDad]

I needed a top up (not Guinness) after my bypass and was anemic for some time after so like holding on to my blood! 🧛‍♂️

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I have had it a few times before but only fairly minor. This looked rather spectacular which is why I had it checked out. Went to optician in April and had diabetic eye check in late June, and told all OK.

[Hidden in reply to MichaelJH]

They always say that.

"Oh....there's nothing wrong....nothing wrong....nothing wrong...."

A few years later, "oh yeah, we didn't want to scare you or anything, so we didn't tell you but we always knew you had so and so". . .

Horror of ageing.

[Dockdog]

Hi Michael, It happened to me too; a bit scary to see but I went to my optician and he checked it out after explaining my meds. I had just switched to aspirin from something far stronger as a blood thinner. Hasn't happened again although my eyes do get a bit bloodshot from time to time. It disappeared after about a week. Take care.