A Look at Red Eye or Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

Red eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage) is caused by a blood vessel breaking in or near the white of the eye. If you believe that medical negligence was the cause, contact an Elyria malpractice attorney to discuss your case.

An Overview of Red Eye (Subconjunctival Hemorrhage)

A subconjunctival hemorrhage can appear as a red spot on the eye. Sometimes the entire white of the eye will turn red, due to the blood. It may feel irritated at first but eventually will cause pain and discomfort.

In some cases, there may be vision difficulties that manifest as blurring or seeing double. Certain medical conditions may increase the risk of complications with red eye, such as high blood pressure or bleeding disorders.

If you believe that you or someone you love has red eye, you should contact a doctor if it doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks. Mild cases of subconjunctival hemorrhages usually don’t require treatment.

However, if the condition was caused by trauma to the eye, it is best to see an ophthalmologist. This way, you can make sure no other damage has been done to the eye.

Causes of Red Eye

While it can occur spontaneously, red eye also can result from trauma. During birth, babies sometimes develop the condition. But in some cases, it might have been caused by medical negligence. If you believe this is the case, you may wish to seek legal counsel to file a birth injury claim.

A severe eye infection also can cause red eye. Failure to detect the infection and/or properly treat it could result in potentially preventable complications.

If you underwent eyelid surgery, complications may include subconjunctival hemorrhage. In some cases, it might have been the result of a medical mistake.

You can request medical tests if you believe negligence may be to blame for your injury, or if someone you love was injured.

Proving Medical Negligence for Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

Proving that a healthcare provider was negligent requires ample evidence. It starts with first establishing that a duty of care was owed to the injured victim. For instance, an obstetrician would be expected to provide reasonable care to the baby being delivered.

Duty of care is provided by healthcare workers including surgeons, physicians, nurses and others who work in the medical field. Establishing the duty of care is usually the easiest part of proving negligence.

The next thing you will need to prove is that the duty of care was breached. Careless or reckless action, such as using undue force when delivering a baby, is an example.

Improper techniques, not following protocol and using unsafe measures are just some ways that medical negligence can occur. But you also will need to connect the breach of the duty of care to the injury. In other words, the negligent actions must be the direct cause of injury.

These types of cases can be complicated, so you will want to consult an Elyria malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

The Becker Law Firm can review the details to determine the viability of a claim if you or someone you love sustained red eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage). Call us at (440) 252-4399 for counseling on your case.