NOTE TO OWNERS

All forms of bleeding associated with the eyes should be examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible. The eyes are sensitive organs which can be irretrievably damaged if treatment is not started quickly

Description

Bleeding can involve several structures of the eye or the surrounding tissues. Frank blood loss is usually associated with a wound but this is not common. Foreign bodies in the eye can cause haemorrhage if they penetrate the vascular tissues of the eyelids or conjunctiva. The normal cornea (clear part of the eye) is poorly supplied with blood and does not bleed when injured. If there is a very deep wound it can damage the outer wall of the eyeball itself, and one of these tissues (the choroid) is highly vascular and bleeds profusely.

Usually owners notice bleeding in the form of haemorrhage into the white sclera of the eye. The cause of this is usually trauma, but it can be associated with infection.

Owners often describe "bleeding from the eyes" when in fact they are referring to a reddy-brown discharge from the eyes due to infection and conjunctivitis.

Haemorrhage that occurs inside the eyeball can sometimes be seen underneath the clear cornea. This is usually due to trauma, or haemorrhage from an intraocular cancer.

Heamorrhage at the back of the eye (involving the retina) can best be seen by examining the eye with an ophthalmoscope. Patchy areas of bleeding often accompany hypertension, but also occur as a result of trauma and some infections.

Bleeding behind the eyeball usually leads to protrusion of the eyes due to the space occupying lesion but blood loss originating behind the eyes can occur following serious head injuries.

Last updated : October 2013