Bleeding inside your eyelid can stem from several causes. It's crucial to determine the source to get appropriate treatment.
Possible Causes of Internal Eyelid Bleeding
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Minor Injury: A small cut or abrasion on the inner eyelid can directly cause bleeding. This is often minor and resolves quickly. Wear or cuts on the inner eyelid can cause direct bleeding from the affected area.
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Hyphema: This involves bleeding into the anterior chamber of the eye (the space between the cornea and the iris). It appears as blood pooling where your eye color is located, not necessarily just the eyelid itself, and is often caused by a tear in the anterior structures of the eye. Hyphema is bleeding inside your eye that causes bleeding into the anterior chamber of your eye. With hyphema, it looks like the blood is where your eye color is…
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Subconjunctival Hemorrhage: This is a broken blood vessel in the white part of your eye (conjunctiva). While not directly inside the eyelid, a severe enough hemorrhage might appear to bleed into the eyelid area. This often happens spontaneously due to minor trauma like sneezing or coughing. A subconjunctival hemorrhage often occurs without any obvious harm to your eye. Even a strong sneeze or cough can cause a blood vessel to break in the eye. A subconjunctival hemorrhage is when a blood vessel breaks in the white of the eye. Then blood builds up below the conjunctiva. Blood in the white part of your eye, a subconjunctival hemorrhage, occurs when blood vessels in the eye break due to trauma, infection,…
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Infection or Inflammation: Inflammation or infection in the eyelid (such as blepharitis or a stye) can sometimes lead to minor bleeding.
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Underlying Medical Conditions: In rare cases, more serious underlying conditions like uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes could contribute to bleeding. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes. It affects blood vessels in the retina.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While minor bleeding often resolves on its own, consult a doctor if:
- The bleeding is severe or persistent.
- You experience vision changes.
- There's significant pain or swelling.
- You suspect a serious injury.
