Health
Fact-checked

At TheHealthBoard, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Is Haemolacria?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Haemolacria refers to the presence of blood in the tears. Concentrations may be so low that it can only be detected with laboratory testing, or the patient may appear to be bleeding from the eyes due to the high blood content. It usually appears as a symptom of disease, although it can also develop spontaneously in some cases, particularly in fertile women. Research suggests that some women produce some blood in their tears in connection with the hormone cycle, and may be unaware of it because only traces are present.

Injuries to the eye can lead to haemolacria, as the eye or surrounding area may leak blood that mixes with the tears. Tumors and other lesions inside the eye and near the tear ducts are another possible cause. Inflammation and infection are also associated with haemolacria, as they can cause irritation severe enough for the capillaries to start leaking. A physical evaluation may reveal the underlying cause, and treatment should resolve the bloody tears and make the patient feel more comfortable.

Injuries to the eye may cause haemolacria.
Injuries to the eye may cause haemolacria.

Certain systemic infections are also associated with bloody tears. Hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola cause blood vessels to burst, leading to leaks throughout the body. Patients can develop heavy bruising, bleeding from mucus membranes, and haemolacria as their bodies slowly break down as a result of the infection. In these cases, the systemic symptoms, including high fever, disorientation, and bruising, are all clinical signs that may assist with diagnosis.

Extreme stress may cause haemolacria.
Extreme stress may cause haemolacria.

Visually, this condition can be frightening for people around the patient if enough blood is present to discolor the tears. Dark, bloody tears can be particularly dramatic and people may fear the patient is seriously ill. People who are already in treatment for an issue known to cause bloody tears should report this symptom if it develops, as it may indicate that the treatment is not working or needs to be adjusted. If there is no known cause, a visit to a doctor for evaluation may be advisable.

Lab testing may be required to identify mild cases of haemolacria.
Lab testing may be required to identify mild cases of haemolacria.

Some cases of haemolacria have been reported in spontaneous circumstances. Researchers theorize it may be associated with extreme stress or psychological upset in these instances. The link with hormone cycles is another possible explanation; if the bloody tears only appear once or twice, it may be difficult to definitively determine if they're connected with the patient’s endocrine cycle. Studies to determine why some women experience this phenomenon in connection with menstrual cycles haven't been conclusive.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

indigomoth

I wonder if this has ever been thought of as a religious thing. I know that there have been occasional statues that "bled" from the eyes and that was considered a miracle.

It kind of makes me sad that it seems to be associated with women, because I imagine if a woman did this back in the day, it would have been considered a sign of witchcraft. So, she might have been burned alive, or otherwise tortured, for no other reason than that her body decided to do something strange for five minutes.

It's funny that, when a statue does it, it's a miracle, but when a living person does it, it has to be the work of the devil. I'd like to think that wasn't the conclusion that people would jump to, but I'm sure it was.

Fa5t3r

@Mor - Well, I've witnessed someone getting milk to run from their eyes, by snorting it up their nose (it must really hurt to do that, now that I think about it!) so they must be connected. That's probably why people get runny noses when they cry as well.

Considering how quickly blood can congeal, I have to say that I hope I never experience this. Aside from the scary factor, it must be very uncomfortable.

Mor

I read an article recently about people who get nose bleeds and what the best way to treat them is, and one of the things they said was that it's a bad idea to lean back and hold the nose. In that case, they said, the blood just flows down the back of the throat and can be much more dangerous than if it flows down your shirt, even if it seems more distressing with the blood on the outside.

Someone in the comments agreed and added that, whenever a well meaning adult would insist on their putting their head back while their nose was bleeding as a child, they ended up bleeding from the eyes which, of course, freaked everyone out.

Kind of a neat trick in some ways, but I can definitely understand why you wouldn't want that to happen. I actually didn't know that the eyes were even connected to the nose like that.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Injuries to the eye may cause haemolacria.
      By: tlorna
      Injuries to the eye may cause haemolacria.
    • Extreme stress may cause haemolacria.
      By: beltsazar
      Extreme stress may cause haemolacria.
    • Lab testing may be required to identify mild cases of haemolacria.
      By: Rob Byron
      Lab testing may be required to identify mild cases of haemolacria.
    • Severe eye infections may cause haemolacria.
      By: Stacy Barnett
      Severe eye infections may cause haemolacria.
    • Disorientation and high fever may be signs of haemolacria.
      By: chuugo
      Disorientation and high fever may be signs of haemolacria.