What Causes Subconjunctival Hemorrhages?

Although it is not always possible to identify the source of the problem, some potential causes of subconjunctival hemorrhage include:

Eye trauma can cause a broken blood vessel
A sudden increase in blood pressure that can result from heavy lifting, coughing, sneezing, laughing and constipation
Aspirin or blood thinners such as warfarin (one brand name is Coumadin)
Rarely, a blood clotting disorder or vitamin K deficiency (vitamin K aids the functioning of proteins necessary for blood clotting)
Eye surgery, including LASIK and cataract surgery

How Are Subconjunctival Hemorrhages Treated?
Lubricant artificial tears can soothe the eyes, although eye drops cannot help repair the broken blood vessels.

If you are taking aspirin or blood thinners, continue taking them unless your doctor specifically instructs you to do otherwise.

Make sure not to rub your eye, which can increase the risk of re-bleeding right after onset — similar to how a nose bleed is susceptible to re-bleeding in the early stages.