Why Does My Newborn Have Red Streaks In The Whites Of The Eyes?
It is common for all, and especially the first time mothers to worry about their newborn and its well-being. A common cause of worry may be the appearance of red streaks in the white region of the eye.
Medically called “subconjunctival hemorrhages”, it is a birth injury due to the blood vessels that break or get ruptured due to the physical stresses during the delivery process. The birth injury usually arise out of difficult natural vaginal deliveries which have tremendous stresses involved or due to improper handling of the baby.
The conjunctiva contains many small and fragile blood vessels, which are prone to rupture easily, causing the blood to leak out into the space in between. It may range from appearing as bright red tiny dots, flame shaped streaks, to the hemorrhage covering major portions of the conjunctiva.
They may look scary and alarming, but they heal naturally, within a couple of weeks, as the blood disappears. The amount of red-streaked area also goes on reducing, as it heals.
It is generally a painless and harmless condition for the newborn, and is always due to the stress involved in the delivery. However, the other reasons (more applicable, but not limited to, adults) may be high blood pressure, injury to the skull, eye trauma, severe thoracic trauma to name a few. Also subconjunctival hemorrhages are associated with problems like scurvy (caused due to vitamin C deficiency), abusive birthing or a condition called Traumatic Asphyxia Syndrome.
In case the condition persists for more than a month, and is accompanied by any pain, fluid or blood discharge and greenness/yellowness of the white region of the eye, medical examination may be necessary to check for infection or trauma.
There are hardly any preventive measures for this condition. Usually, no treatment is required if the reason is purely due to the delivery stresses. Since it is usually a painless condition, no pain relieving medications are suggested.
Unless there is irritation, no eye-drops are required . In case they need to be used, it must be done under the guidance of the doctor. In fact any use of eye drops, prolongs the process of natural healing.
Hence, the best option is to let it heal naturally, while remaining calm and alert at its progress, and seeking medical attention in case it prolongs for more than three to four weeks.
