{"id":1810,"date":"2026-10-20T08:52:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T08:52:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/eye-glossary\/conjunctiva\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T12:56:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:56:31","slug":"conjunctiva","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-glossary\/conjunctiva\/","title":{"rendered":"Subconjunctival Hemorrhage and the Conjunctiva: Parts, Function and Conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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  1. Home<\/a><\/li>
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  4. Subconjunctival Hemorrhage and the Conjunctiva: Parts, Function and Conditions<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t

    Subconjunctival Hemorrhage and the Conjunctiva: Parts, Function and Conditions<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Medically reviewed by {{surgeon}}<\/span><\/strong>, {{surgeon’s title and specialty}}<\/span>, on {{review date}}<\/span>. Last updated {{date}}<\/span>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    \"Illustration<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
    \n\t\t<\/svg>Definition<\/span>\n\t\t\t

    Conjunctiva<\/strong> (noun, plural conjunctivae or conjunctivas)<\/em>: the conjunctiva is the thin, transparent, moist membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the white of the eye (the sclera) up to the edge of the cornea. It protects the eye, makes part of the tear film and lets the eye move and blink smoothly. It contains many small blood vessels, which is why the white of the eye looks pink or red when it is irritated, infected or bleeding.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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    Conjunctiva: key facts<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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    <\/svg>Where it is<\/span><\/dt>
    Lines the inner surface of the upper and lower eyelids, then folds back to cover the front of the white of the eye, stopping at the edge of the cornea (the limbus)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>What it is<\/span><\/dt>
    A thin mucous membrane: a non-keratinised (soft, moist) layered epithelium about five cell layers deep, on a loose, blood-vessel-rich connective tissue<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Main parts<\/span><\/dt>
    Palpebral (eyelid) conjunctiva, forniceal conjunctiva (the fold between lid and eye) and bulbar (eyeball) conjunctiva<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Main jobs<\/span><\/dt>
    Barrier against germs and dust, mucus for the tear film, immune defence, smooth movement of the eye under the lids<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Blood supply<\/span><\/dt>
    Rich. Unlike the cornea, which has none<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Most common problems<\/span><\/dt>
    Conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), subconjunctival hemorrhage, dry or allergic eye, pinguecula and pterygium<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Specialist<\/span><\/dt>
    Ophthalmologist; at Laser Istanbul Clinic, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131, Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
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    \"Illustration<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t
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    What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    A subconjunctival hemorrhage (written subconjunctival haemorrhage in UK English) is bleeding from a tiny vessel into the space between the conjunctiva and the sclera. Because the conjunctiva is clear, the blood shows through as a flat, bright red patch on the white of the eye, anywhere from a pinpoint spot to a patch covering much of the white. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), most people only notice it when they look in a mirror, and it may cause at most mild irritation.<\/p>\n

    Think of it as a bruise on the surface of the eye. The blood cannot drain quickly, so it stays visible until the body absorbs it. It looks alarming, but in most people it is harmless.<\/p>\n

    How common is it? EyeWiki (the AAO’s clinical wiki) reports that subconjunctival hemorrhage accounts for around 3% of patients seen in outpatient departments and emergency rooms, and that it affects about 10.1% of people over 65.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

    Subconjunctival hemorrhage causes: why does the white of the eye bleed?<\/h2><\/div>

    Subconjunctival hemorrhage causes fall into three groups.<\/p>\n

    1. Sudden pressure rises (the most common trigger).<\/strong> Coughing, sneezing, straining or vigorous eye rubbing temporarily raise pressure in the veins, and a fragile vessel gives way. The AAO lists these as the common causes. Often there is no obvious trigger at all: EyeWiki notes that around 40% of cases in older patients have no identified cause.<\/p>\n

    2. Injury.<\/strong> A knock to the eye, a scratch, a foreign body or contact lens problems can break vessels. EyeWiki reports minor eye injury as the cause in 83% of children’s cases (surgery excluded) and notes more contact-lens-related cases in recent years.<\/p>\n

    3. Medical conditions and medicines.<\/strong> Risk factors include:<\/p>\n