What Causes Conjunctival Hyperemia?

With the widespread use of electronic devices, many primary and secondary school students experience conjunctival hyperemia, which may also affect visual acuity. So, what causes conjunctival hyperemia?

What Causes Conjunctival Hyperemia?

Conjunctival hyperemia may result from blood vessel rupture or increased conjunctival vascular permeability. It is a symptom—not a disease—and its precise underlying cause is rarely identified. Common triggers include severe coughing, vomiting, straining during bowel movements, or vigorous eye rubbing. Additionally, direct trauma can cause conjunctival vessel rupture—for example, physical injury, certain types of conjunctivitis, or procedures involving conjunctival injection (e.g., for strabismus correction, pterygium excision, retinal detachment repair, or removal of conjunctival tumors). Postoperative conjunctival hyperemia may also occur following such surgeries.

If conjunctival hyperemia occurs, it is advisable to consult an ophthalmologist for evaluation and diagnosis of the specific cause. This condition may stem from non-specific inflammatory hyperemia due to infection, allergic inflammatory hyperemia triggered by allergens, or eye fatigue resulting from excessive visual strain—each leading to hyperemia. As treatment strategies differ depending on the underlying cause, accurate diagnosis is essential.

If caused by infection, targeted topical antibiotic eye drops—selected based on microbial sensitivity and prescribed by a physician—are required for local anti-infective therapy. If due to allergy, prompt identification and avoidance of the allergen are critical; concurrent treatment may include anti-allergic eye drops or oral antihistamines. If attributable to eye fatigue, lubricating or anti-fatigue eye drops may be recommended. We hope this information proves helpful!