14 Common Causes of Burst Blood Vessel in the Eye

Bloodshot eyes or burst blood vessels within the eyes, usually visible in the whites of the eyes, can be a concerning medical symptom – and a scary sight to anyone who looks in the mirror and notices that they’ve potentially burst a vessel within the eye.

What causes burst blood vessels in the eye – and are all of these causes necessarily considered serious? 

The first thing that you should know is that there might be a thousand different potential causes for bloodshot eyes or burst blood vessels: Some of the most common ones have been covered here – and you’re best off seeing your doctor if you recognize anything mentioned in this article as applying to your own health.

Not all of these are serious conditions, but most of them require diagnosis and treatment – and many of them are best diagnosed sooner rather than later.

Here are 14 potential causes of burst blood vessels in the eyes that should mean you make an immediate doctor’s appointment.

1. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is one of the most common health conditions out there: Certain lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking or a high-fat and high-salt diet might put you at more risk for developing high blood pressure, or your cause might simply be chronic or related to your genetics and likelihood of developing it.

Most of the time, high blood pressure will involve clear symptoms such as excess sweating, a feeling of nervousness or panic, an increased heart attack risk and might include periods of feeling “weak” or about to faint throughout the day when blood pressure spikes towards higher than the acceptable 120 over 80 measurements.

Bloodshot eyes and burst blood vessels are a common characteristic, and it’s the kind of thing that you should see your doctor immediately to know how you can reduce your risk of a heart attack, stroke or other medical emergencies that might be related to high blood pressure.