{"id":18400,"date":"2026-09-14T12:23:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T12:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/?p=18400"},"modified":"2026-09-14T12:23:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T12:23:19","slug":"blood-thinners-eye-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely or more noticeable if a small blood vessel in or around your eye becomes damaged. You may notice this with medicines such as warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, aspirin or clopidogrel, although these medicines are usually prescribed to reduce your risk of serious blood clots, strokes and heart attacks.<\/p>\n<p>Blood thinners do not usually damage your eyes directly; instead, they can make bleeding more severe or last longer. If you take one, you should not stop it before an eye procedure without medical advice, as stopping treatment can sometimes put you at greater risk of dangerous blood clots.<\/p>\n<h2>What Should You Know About Blood-Thinning Medicines?<\/h2>\n<p>Blood thinners are medicines that reduce your blood\u2019s ability to form clots, although they do not actually make your blood thinner. You may be prescribed an anticoagulant, such as warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran or edoxaban, or an antiplatelet medicine such as aspirin or clopidogrel.<\/p>\n<p>You may need blood-thinning treatment if you have atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or another condition that increases your risk of blood clots. If you have a mechanical heart valve, anticoagulation is usually with a vitamin K antagonist such as warfarin, because DOACs are not suitable for mechanical valves.<\/p>\n<h2>Can Blood Thinners Increase Your Risk of Eye Bleeding?<\/h2>\n<p>Blood thinners do not usually cause eye bleeding by themselves, but they can make bleeding more likely or more severe if a blood vessel becomes damaged. Your individual risk can also depend on the type and dose of medicine you take, as well as any existing health or eye conditions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bleeding from damaged blood vessels:<\/strong> Blood thinners can increase bleeding if small blood vessels in or around your eye become damaged.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Surface eye bleeding:<\/strong> You may develop a subconjunctival haemorrhage, which can cause a bright red patch on the white of your eye.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bleeding inside the eye:<\/strong> Retinal or vitreous haemorrhage can be more serious and may affect your vision.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Individual risk factors:<\/strong> Your risk may vary depending on your medicine, dose, overall health and any existing eye problems.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Other eye conditions:<\/strong> Blood thinners do not usually directly cause conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you notice sudden changes in your vision or unusual eye symptoms while taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines, you should seek medical advice promptly.<\/p>\n<h2>Can Warfarin Affect Your Eyes?<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18416 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61-200x109.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61-400x218.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61-600x327.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61-768x419.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61-800x436.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagess-61.jpg 1100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Warfarin can increase your risk of bleeding, including bleeding in or around your eye, because it reduces the activity of clotting factors. You may need regular INR monitoring to ensure your warfarin level remains within the recommended range, although a subconjunctival haemorrhage does not automatically mean your warfarin dose is unsafe.<\/p>\n<p>You may develop eye bleeding for other reasons, such as high blood pressure, coughing, straining, eye rubbing or minor trauma. If you notice unexplained bleeding while taking warfarin, you should tell your doctor, and you should never stop warfarin suddenly without medical advice.<\/p>\n<h2>Can DOACs Increase Your Risk of Eye Bleeding?<\/h2>\n<p>Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran and edoxaban, can increase your risk of bleeding, including bleeding inside the eye. You may be prescribed these medicines because they protect against blood clots without requiring the same regular INR monitoring as warfarin.<\/p>\n<p>Serious eye bleeding is uncommon, but it remains a possible complication. If you take a DOAC and develop sudden vision changes, new floaters, a dark shadow or a curtain-like area in your vision, you should seek urgent medical assessment.<\/p>\n<h2>Can Aspirin Affect Your Eyes?<\/h2>\n<p>Aspirin is an antiplatelet medicine that reduces your platelets\u2019 ability to form clots. You may notice more minor bleeding, including small haemorrhages on the surface of your eye, although the effect on deeper eye bleeding can depend on your overall health and existing eye conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Many people taking aspirin also have cardiovascular conditions that can affect eye health, making the relationship complex. If your doctor has prescribed aspirin, you should not stop taking it because of concerns about eye bleeding unless they advise you to do so.<\/p>\n<h2>What Should You Know About a Subconjunctival Haemorrhage?<\/h2>\n<p>A subconjunctival haemorrhage happens when a small blood vessel breaks beneath the conjunctiva, causing part of your eye to look bright red. You may find it alarming, but it is usually painless, does not affect your vision and often clears naturally within one to two weeks.<\/p>\n<p>You may be more likely to develop one while taking blood thinners, especially after coughing, sneezing, straining, eye rubbing or minor injury. You should seek medical advice if you have pain, reduced vision, repeated bleeding, significant trauma, bleeding elsewhere, or if you are concerned about whether the redness is harmless or related to your medication.<\/p>\n<h2>Can Blood Thinners Increase Retinal Bleeding?<\/h2>\n<p>A retinal haemorrhage happens when blood leaks from damaged blood vessels in the retina and may affect your vision depending on where and how much bleeding occurs. You may have a higher risk if you have conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or retinal vein occlusion, while blood thinners can increase the amount of bleeding once a vessel problem develops.<\/p>\n<p>You should seek an eye examination if you notice new floaters, blurred vision, missing areas of sight or sudden changes in your vision. Your ophthalmologist can check your retina and determine whether bleeding, swelling or another retinal condition is causing your symptoms.<\/p>\n<h2>Can Blood Thinners Increase Vitreous Bleeding?<\/h2>\n<p>A vitreous haemorrhage happens when blood enters the clear gel inside your eye, which can cause sudden floaters, dark spots, cobweb-like shadows, blurred vision or reduced sight. Blood thinners may worsen bleeding from fragile retinal blood vessels, but the underlying cause is often a retinal problem such as diabetic retinopathy, a retinal tear or retinal vein occlusion.<\/p>\n<p>You should seek urgent eye assessment if you develop sudden floaters or a sudden drop in vision while taking a blood thinner. A retinal specialist can examine your eye, identify the cause and decide whether treatment is needed. These symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be a side effect of your medication.<\/p>\n<h2>Do Blood Thinners Increase the Risk of Bleeding During Eye Surgery?<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18418 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9-200x109.png 200w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9-400x218.png 400w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9-600x327.png 600w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9-800x436.png 800w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-9.png 1100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You may be able to continue your blood-thinning medicine during some eye procedures, as the bleeding risk is often low. Cataract surgery, for example, can usually be performed without stopping anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines, while more complex retinal or glaucoma surgery may require a more individualised plan.<\/p>\n<p>Stopping your medicine can increase your risk of serious blood clots, so your ophthalmologist and anticoagulation doctor may work together to decide what is safest for you. You should never stop warfarin, DOACs, aspirin or clopidogrel before an eye procedure unless your healthcare team specifically advises you to.<\/p>\n<h2>How Do Different Eye Procedures Compare When You Take Blood Thinners?<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Eye procedure<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Bleeding considerations<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>What you should do<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Cataract surgery<\/td>\n<td>Usually considered a low-risk procedure for serious bleeding.<\/td>\n<td>Tell your surgeon about your medicines; do not stop blood thinners unless advised.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Intravitreal eye injections<\/td>\n<td>Minor surface bleeding may occur, but serious bleeding is uncommon.<\/td>\n<td>Inform your eye clinic about all anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Laser eye surgery (LASIK)<\/td>\n<td>Direct evidence on blood-thinner management for LASIK and other corneal laser procedures is limited.<\/td>\n<td>Discuss your suitability with your surgeon before stopping any prescribed medicine.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Retinal or complex glaucoma surgery<\/td>\n<td>Bleeding risk may require a more individualised plan.<\/td>\n<td>Your ophthalmologist may coordinate with the doctor managing your anticoagulation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Should You Stop Blood Thinners Before Cataract Surgery?<\/h2>\n<p>Many patients do not need to stop their blood-thinning medicine before cataract surgery because it is generally considered a low-risk procedure for serious bleeding. Research suggests that many patients can safely continue anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines, although your individual health and the surgical technique still matter.<\/p>\n<p>You should tell your eye surgeon which medicine you take, your dose, why you take it and whether you have had bleeding problems before. This helps your medical team decide what is safest for you, as stopping treatment unnecessarily could increase your risk of serious blood clots.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Evidence Note<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Research suggests that many patients can safely continue anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines during cataract surgery, particularly when the procedure is performed using modern techniques with low bleeding risk. However, the decision depends on your individual risk factors, the type of surgery and the reason you take your blood thinner.<\/p>\n<h2>Can Blood Thinners Affect Your Laser Eye Surgery?<\/h2>\n<p>There is limited direct evidence about how anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines affect LASIK and other corneal laser procedures. Because these are usually elective treatments, your surgeon will consider your medication history, eye measurements, corneal health and overall health before deciding whether treatment is suitable for you.<\/p>\n<p>You should tell your clinic about all the medicines you take, including aspirin, anticoagulants and supplements. Do not stop a prescribed blood thinner simply to become eligible for laser eye surgery unless the doctor who manages your medication advises you to do so.<\/p>\n<p><strong>UK Guidance Note<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In UK practice, routine cataract surgery under topical or sub-Tenon\u2019s anaesthesia can generally be performed without stopping antithrombotic medicines. If you take warfarin, your INR should be within your therapeutic range. Higher-risk eye procedures or some anaesthetic techniques may need an individual plan involving your ophthalmologist and the clinician managing your anticoagulation.<\/p>\n<h2>Should You Be Concerned About Eye Injections While Taking Blood Thinners?<\/h2>\n<p>You may notice some bleeding after an anti-VEGF eye injection, although serious bleeding inside the eye is uncommon. If you take a blood thinner, your eye specialist will consider your individual bleeding risk alongside the reason you need the medication.<\/p>\n<p>You should not stop an anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicine before an eye injection unless your healthcare team specifically advises you to. Always tell your eye clinic about the medicines you take so your specialist can advise you safely.<\/p>\n<h2>Are You More Likely to Experience Eye Bleeding?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes. Your risk of eye bleeding depends on more than whether you take a blood thinner. You may have a higher risk if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, retinal blood vessel disease, previous eye trauma, older age, a bleeding disorder or several medicines that affect clotting.<\/p>\n<p>Your overall health picture matters, so the same blood thinner may carry different risks for different people. Managing your blood pressure and diabetes and attending recommended eye examinations can help you reduce the risk of serious eye complications.<\/p>\n<h2>Can Blood Thinners Affect Existing Eye Conditions?<\/h2>\n<p>Blood thinners do not usually cause eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration. However, if you already have fragile retinal blood vessels, such as with diabetic retinopathy or retinal vascular disease, you may be more concerned about bleeding.<\/p>\n<p>Your ophthalmologist will consider both your eye condition and your need for anticoagulation. In many cases, continuing your blood thinner remains the safest option, as the aim is to balance bleeding risk against the risk of dangerous blood clots.<\/p>\n<h2>What Should You Tell Your Eye Doctor About Blood Thinners?<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18348 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432-200x109.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432-400x218.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432-600x327.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432-768x419.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432-800x436.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-2026-09-07T102826.432.jpg 1100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You should tell your eye-care team about every medicine you take, including anticoagulants, aspirin, antiplatelet medicines and supplements that may affect bleeding. You should also explain why you take the medicine, as your risk of blood clots may depend on the condition being treated.<\/p>\n<p>You may be asked about previous bleeding, recent blood tests, kidney function and other medicines you take. Bringing an up-to-date medication list can help your ophthalmologist plan surgery or injections safely and coordinate care with your GP, cardiologist or anticoagulation team.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Clinical Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Always bring an up-to-date list of your medicines to your eye appointments. Include the name, dose and reason for each blood thinner, as this helps your ophthalmologist plan treatment safely and decide whether any coordination with another doctor is needed.<\/p>\n<h2>When Should You Seek Urgent Eye Assessment?<\/h2>\n<p>You should seek urgent eye assessment if you develop sudden vision changes while taking a blood thinner. Warning signs include sudden loss of vision, a dark curtain or shadow, a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, severe eye pain or significant redness with reduced vision.<\/p>\n<p>You may have symptoms caused by retinal bleeding, retinal detachment, acute glaucoma or another condition requiring prompt treatment. A painless red patch on the white of your eye is usually less urgent, but you should discuss repeated episodes with your doctor and never stop your blood thinner without medical advice.<\/p>\n<h2>Myth vs Fact<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Myth<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Fact<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Blood thinners directly damage your eyes.<\/td>\n<td>Blood thinners do not usually damage the eye directly; they can increase the chance or severity of bleeding if a blood vessel becomes damaged.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You should stop blood thinners before any eye procedure.<\/td>\n<td>Many eye procedures can be performed while continuing blood thinners, but your medical team should make the decision.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>A red patch on the white of your eye always means serious bleeding.<\/td>\n<td>A subconjunctival haemorrhage is often harmless, although vision changes or repeated bleeding should be assessed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aspirin is not important to mention before eye treatment.<\/td>\n<td>You should tell your eye-care team about aspirin and all medicines that may affect bleeding.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Eye bleeding while taking blood thinners always means the medicine is unsafe.<\/td>\n<td>Bleeding can happen for many reasons, and your doctor will balance bleeding risk against the risk of serious blood clots.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Blood thinners usually do not damage your eyes directly, but they can increase bleeding risk.<\/li>\n<li>A small surface bleed in the eye is often harmless, while retinal or vitreous bleeding may need urgent assessment.<\/li>\n<li>You should never stop prescribed blood thinners without medical advice.<\/li>\n<li>Many eye procedures can be performed safely while continuing anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines.<\/li>\n<li>Always tell your eye-care team about all medicines and supplements you take before treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Can blood thinners cause eye bleeding?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Yes. Blood thinners can make bleeding more likely or cause bleeding to last longer if a blood vessel in or around your eye becomes damaged. They do not usually damage your eyes directly.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Which blood-thinning medicines can affect your eyes?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Medicines such as warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, aspirin and clopidogrel can increase your risk of bleeding. The level of risk depends on your medicine, dose and overall health.<\/li>\n<li><strong> What is a subconjunctival haemorrhage?<br \/>\n<\/strong>A subconjunctival haemorrhage occurs when a small blood vessel breaks beneath the clear surface of your eye, causing a bright red patch on the white of your eye. It is usually painless, does not affect your vision and clears naturally within one to two weeks.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Can blood thinners increase retinal or vitreous bleeding?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Blood thinners can increase the amount of bleeding when fragile or damaged retinal blood vessels bleed. Retinal or vitreous haemorrhage can affect your vision and may be linked to conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears or retinal vein occlusion.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Should you stop blood thinners before eye surgery?<br \/>\n<\/strong>You should not stop your blood thinner without medical advice. Many procedures, including cataract surgery, can often be performed while you continue anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment, but your healthcare team will assess your individual risks.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Can you have cataract surgery while taking blood thinners?<br \/>\n<\/strong>In many cases, yes. Cataract surgery is generally considered a low-risk procedure for serious bleeding, so you may be able to continue your blood-thinning medicine. Your eye surgeon will consider your individual health and medication before making a recommendation.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Can blood thinners affect eye injections?<br \/>\n<\/strong>You may develop a small subconjunctival haemorrhage after an anti-VEGF eye injection, but serious bleeding inside the eye is uncommon. Anticoagulants are not usually stopped solely for an intravitreal injection unless your specialist advises otherwise.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Can aspirin cause bleeding in the eye?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Aspirin can make minor bleeding, including bleeding on the surface of your eye, more likely. However, you should not stop prescribed aspirin because of concerns about eye bleeding unless your doctor advises you to do so.<\/li>\n<li><strong> What symptoms require urgent eye assessment while taking blood thinners?<br \/>\n<\/strong>You should seek urgent eye assessment if you develop sudden vision loss, new or increased floaters, flashes of light, a dark curtain or shadow across your vision, severe eye pain or significant redness with reduced vision.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Should you tell your eye doctor if you take blood thinners?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Yes. You should tell your eye-care team about all anticoagulants, antiplatelet medicines and supplements you take. Also explain why you take them, as this helps your healthcare team balance your risk of bleeding against the risk of dangerous blood clots.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Final Thoughts: Protecting Your Eyes While Taking Blood Thinners<\/h2>\n<p>Blood thinners can increase the risk or severity of eye bleeding, although they do not usually damage your eyes directly. You should not stop your medication without medical advice, and sudden vision loss, new floaters, flashes or severe eye pain require urgent assessment.<\/p>\n<p>If you have any concerns about your eyesight, you can contact our team at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\">Eye Clinic London<\/a> for a comprehensive assessment.<\/p>\n<h2>References:<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Makuloluwa, A.K., Tiew, S. and Briggs, M. (2019) \u2018Peri-operative management of ophthalmic patients on anti-thrombotic agents: a literature review\u2019, <em>Eye<\/em>, 33(7), pp. 1044\u20131059. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6707318\/\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6707318\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sun, M.T., Wood, M.K., Chan, W., Selva, D., Sanders, P., Casson, R.J. and Wong, C.X. (2017) \u2018Risk of Intraocular Bleeding With Novel Oral Anticoagulants Compared With Warfarin: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis\u2019, <em>JAMA Ophthalmology<\/em>, 135(8), pp. 864\u2013870. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5710315\/\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5710315\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Leiker, L.L., Mehta, B.H., Pruchnicki, M.C. and Rodis, J.L. (2009) \u2018Risk factors and complications of subconjunctival hemorrhages in patients taking warfarin\u2019, <em>Optometry<\/em>, 80(5), pp. 227\u2013231. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19410227\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19410227\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Mason, J.O. III, Frederick, P.A., Neimkin, M.G. et al. (2010) \u2018Incidence of hemorrhagic complications after intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) or ranibizumab (Lucentis) injections on systemically anticoagulated patients\u2019, <em>Retina<\/em>, 30(9), pp. 1386\u20131389. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/20924260\/\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/20924260\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Narain, A. and James, A. (2026) \u2018Perioperative management of anticoagulation\u2019, <em>BJS<\/em>, 113(5), znag049. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/bjs\/article-abstract\/113\/5\/znag049\/8659745\">https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/bjs\/article-abstract\/113\/5\/znag049\/8659745<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely or more noticeable if a small blood vessel in or around your eye becomes damaged. You may notice this with medicines such as warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, aspirin or clopidogrel, although these medicines are usually prescribed to reduce your risk of serious blood clots, strokes and heart attacks. Blood thinners do not usually damage your eyes directly; instead, they can make bleeding more severe or last longer. If you take one, you should not<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":18412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.4 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how blood-thinning medicines can affect the eyes and their relationship with ocular bleeding and eye procedures.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how blood-thinning medicines can affect the eyes and their relationship with ocular bleeding and eye procedures.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Samer Hamada | Eye Clinic London\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-14T12:23:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1100\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eye Clinic London\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eye Clinic London\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eye Clinic London\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/44a356218e856152b4fceafe46f1d5c8\"},\"headline\":\"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-14T12:23:19+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/\"},\"wordCount\":2958,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Uncategorized\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/\",\"name\":\"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-14T12:23:19+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how blood-thinning medicines can affect the eyes and their relationship with ocular bleeding and eye procedures.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png\",\"width\":1100,\"height\":600},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Samer Hamada | Eye Clinic London\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Eye Clinic London\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eyecliniclondon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eye-clinic-london-logo-240.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/eyecliniclondon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eye-clinic-london-logo-240.png\",\"width\":240,\"height\":60,\"caption\":\"Eye Clinic London\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/44a356218e856152b4fceafe46f1d5c8\",\"name\":\"Eye Clinic London\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?","description":"Learn how blood-thinning medicines can affect the eyes and their relationship with ocular bleeding and eye procedures.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?","og_description":"Learn how blood-thinning medicines can affect the eyes and their relationship with ocular bleeding and eye procedures.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/","og_site_name":"Samer Hamada | Eye Clinic London","article_published_time":"2026-09-14T12:23:19+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1100,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Eye Clinic London","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Eye Clinic London","Estimated reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/"},"author":{"name":"Eye Clinic London","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/44a356218e856152b4fceafe46f1d5c8"},"headline":"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?","datePublished":"2026-09-14T12:23:19+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/"},"wordCount":2958,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png","articleSection":["Uncategorized"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/","url":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/","name":"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png","datePublished":"2026-09-14T12:23:19+00:00","description":"Learn how blood-thinning medicines can affect the eyes and their relationship with ocular bleeding and eye procedures.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Imagess-7.png","width":1100,"height":600},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/blood-thinners-eye-problems\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can Blood Thinners Cause Problems in the Eyes?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/","name":"Samer Hamada | Eye Clinic London","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Eye Clinic London","url":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/eyecliniclondon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eye-clinic-london-logo-240.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/eyecliniclondon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eye-clinic-london-logo-240.png","width":240,"height":60,"caption":"Eye Clinic London"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/44a356218e856152b4fceafe46f1d5c8","name":"Eye Clinic London","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18400\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}