If you have noticed excessive and unusual eye redness in the whites of your eye or eyes, you may be suffering from subconjuctival hemorrhage. This condition is caused by a rupture of the small blood vessels that reside just beneath the tissue around the whites of the eye. When the vessels rupture, the whites become covered in a reddish tint.

Common causes of subconjuctival hemorrhage include:

• Trauma to the eye

• Blood clotting disorders

• Regular use of blood thinners like asprin and coumadin

• A sudden surge in blood pressure due to excessive effort from lifting heavy objects, coughing, sneezing and the like

While subconjuctival hemorrhages do not result in pain or loss of vision, the unsightly appearance often prompts sufferers to seek out treatment. While no treatment is available to heal the rupture that causes the redness, eye drops can be used as artificial lubricants to soothe the eyes and lessen the red appearance of the whites of the eyes. Rubbing touching the eyes can contribute to the problem and extend the healing time. Typically subconjuctival hemorrhages will heal within a week or ten days.