RED SPOTS ON WHITES OF EYES WHAT High blood pressure

IT MAY MEAN:

Occasional red spots and smudges are usually nothing to worry about. “They tend to be small delicate blood vessels just below the surface of the eye that have broken, even by a cough or sneeze,” says

Paul Morris, an optometrist. Broken larger blood vessels are usually harmless unless they persist for more than two weeks or are particularly large, in which case they could be a sign of high blood pressure.

“A condition called hypertensive retinopathy results in walls of blood vessels narrowing and restricting blood flow,” says Giles Edmonds, a consultant optometrist and clinical services director for Specsavers. “In severe cases, the retina also becomes swollen, which can cause blood vessels to leak and red spots in the eyes to appear.”

WHAT TO DO: “If the red spots persist or increase, get them looked at by a medical professional, who will also check your blood pressure,” Edmonds says. “Regular eye tests are also important.”