Blood Clot in Eye: When Is It Harmless and When Could It Be an Eye Stroke?

Blood Clot in the Eye: When Is It Harmless and When Could It Be an Eye Stroke?

New Delhi: A sudden red or blood-like patch in the eye can look alarming, but in many cases it may be a subconjunctival haemorrhage, a condition that is usually harmless and resolves on its own.

However, not every eye-related bleeding or visual disturbance should be ignored. Doctors warn that sudden blurred or reduced vision, new floaters, flashes of light, eye pain or partial/complete vision loss could indicate a more serious problem, including a retinal blood-vessel blockage or what is commonly referred to as an “eye stroke.”

An eye stroke occurs when blood flow to the retina is disrupted. Because the retina is highly sensitive to reduced blood supply, sudden changes in vision require urgent medical assessment.

When Should You Seek Help?

A simple red patch on the white of the eye, without pain or vision changes, is often less concerning. But if the redness or suspected blood clot is accompanied by sudden vision changes, flashes, floaters, severe pain or loss of vision, immediate evaluation by an eye specialist or emergency department is important.

The key message is simple: a red eye is not always an emergency, but sudden changes in vision should never be ignored.