Subconjunctival haemorrhage

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a bright red spot on the white of your eye (sclera). It’s caused by a small broken blood vessel under the conjunctiva, the thin, clear tissue that covers the sclera.

Some subconjunctival hemorrhages look like a small red patch, while others can cover the entire white part of your eye and make it look red and bloody.

Though it may look scary, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is almost always harmless and goes away without any treatment.

How long will it take for the broken blood vessel to heal?

A subconjunctival hemorrhage should heal on its own within one to three weeks. During this time, the bright red patch may turn a deeper red color, then look more yellow as the blood is reabsorbed by the body.

If the red area doesn’t go away (or get significantly smaller) within a few weeks, talk to an eye doctor.