Ocular Hyperemia

Hyperemia refers to an excess of blood in the vessels supplying an organ or parts of the body. In ocular hyperemia, there is an excess of blood in the white of the eyes (sclera). It is a common complaint, though it can be indicative of something more severe if it is accompanied with eye pain, diminished visual ability or photophobia.

Causes

• Ocular hyperemia can result from reactions to an external irritant, conjunctivitis (or pink eye), trauma or physical blows or even eye diseases such as glaucoma.

Treatment

• Since there are a number of causes of ocular hyperemia, a thorough evaluation involving medical history and physical examination of the eye are necessary to determine the problem. Questions asked may include when the onset occurred and how long the red eye persisted, what the patient experienced as signs and symptoms, what aggravating factors may have been and whether visual acuity has diminished.

Expert Insight

• In cases where ocular hyperemia is caused by corneal ulcer, narrow angle glaucoma or penetrating foreign objects found in the eye, immediate medical care is needed.