The eye receives part of its nourishment from blood vessels on the surface of the eye and blood vessels on the retina, the thin layer that lines the back of the eye. If changes occur with any of these vessels, a bleed may occur. Routine eye exams may help detect vision-threatening conditions, but a person with any changes in vision should see an eye care professional immediately.
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Blood vessels on the white of the eye often break, causing a visible bleed on the surface of the eye, a condition called a subconjunctival hemorrhage. For most people, the red area does not hurt or affect vision. Doctors cannot offer any treatment for the bleed, but the hemorrhage should gradually disappear within a couple of weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic. Though most people have no complications from a subconjunctival hemorrhage, a person with a bleed that appears to swell or cause changes in vision should contact an eye care professional immediately.
Wet Macular Degeneration
The retina relays visual information to the optic nerve, and the macula, an area of the retina, has the responsibility for the central part of vision. Wet macular degeneration affects this central vision when new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula, and then bleed, lifting the macula away from the back of the eye. When this occurs, central vision loss often happens suddenly, says the National Eye Institute. This type of eye bleed does not usually affect peripheral vision, but face recognition and reading will be impaired. In the early stages of wet macular degeneration, a straight line, such as a power pole, will appear to bend or curve. Eye doctors may treat the bleeding vessels with laser procedures or light therapy to prevent further damage, though lost vision does not typically return.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy affects many people with diabetes, resulting when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels on the retina. Bleeds occur when blood vessels on the retina leak, causing edema, which may affect the macula. Vision changes may offer an early sign, though eye doctors will often see early signs of retinopathy during an eye exam. If the doctor notes abnormal blood vessels, he may determine whether the patient should have laser treatment to prevent bleeding. Doctors will also perform laser surgery after a bleed in order to decrease macular swelling. If detected and treated early, diabetics with retinopathy "have a 90 percent chance of keeping their vision," says Penn States' Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
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