Location and extent of subconjunctival hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: Subconjunctival hemorrhage (SCH) is a relatively frequent disease; however, there have been no reports about its location and extent. We examined its location and extent.

METHODS: A total of 151 patients with SCH aged 2-94 years were studied. The conjunctiva was divided into 8 equal areas. The age, gender, medical history, ocular history and site of hemorrhage were determined for all subjects.

RESULTS: The number of areas involved by SCH showed an age-related increase. Traumatic SCH had a smaller extent compared with SCH related to hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, or idiopathic SCH. Overall, SCH was significantly more common in the inferior areas than the superior areas (55.3% vs. 25.0%, p < 0.000001). In patients with SCH secondary to trauma or diabetes, however, the temporal areas were affected more often than the nasal areas (61.5% vs. 30.8% and 73.3% vs. 20.0%, respectively).

CONCLUSION: SCH showed an age-related increase in extent and was predominant in the inferior areas. However, traumatic SCH was usually detected as localized hemorrhage in the temporal areas.