Answer:

Sudden bleeding (bruising) in the eye can be alarming but isn't always serious. It commonly occurs in three areas: under the conjunctiva (the white of the eye), in the anterior chamber (the space between the cornea and the iris), and behind the eyeball.

Your situation sounds like a subconjunctival hemorrhage, which is usually harmless. Blood leaks under the thin membrane covering the white of the eye, creating a bright red spot or patch. This can be caused by forceful sneezing, coughing, straining, minor trauma, high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, or sometimes no apparent reason. Subconjunctival hemorrhages are painless and typically clear up within 1-2 weeks without lasting effects. However, if it happens frequently, you should have your blood pressure, clotting factors, and other general health aspects checked.

With hyphema, blood collects in the anterior chamber, the fluid-filled space between the iris and cornea (the front part of your eye). This is often caused by significant trauma, complications after eye surgery, or abnormal blood vessels. Hyphema can cause pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and secondary glaucoma.

Doctor Tang Ngoc Anh examines a woman's eye. Photo illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

Besides these two conditions, there's also retrobulbar hemorrhage, bleeding behind the eyeball. This is a serious condition that can compress the optic nerve, causing severe pain, drooping eyelid, bulging eye, and rapid vision loss if not treated promptly. The causes can include severe trauma to the eye socket or complications from surgery.

You haven't specified the extent of the bleeding. Therefore, to be safe and prevent any worsening, you should visit a hospital with an ophthalmology department for a proper diagnosis and timely treatment.

MSc. MD Tang Ngoc Anh

Deputy Head of Ophthalmology Department, High-Tech Eye Center

Tam Anh General Hospital, TP HCM