{"id":3584,"date":"2026-07-31T16:01:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T14:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/?post_type=glossary&#038;p=3584"},"modified":"2026-07-31T16:03:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T14:03:46","slug":"capillary-hemangioma","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/glossar\/capillary-hemangioma\/","title":{"rendered":"Capillary Hemangioma"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A capillary hemangioma, colloquially also called a \"strawberry mark\" or \"blood sponge\", is a benign vascular tumor that consists of small, abnormally grown blood capillaries. In the area of the eyes, a hemangioma can affect vision and therefore requires ophthalmological monitoring.<\/p>\n<h2>Course<\/h2>\n<p>Capillary hemangiomas follow a typical growth pattern:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Birth:<\/strong> usually not yet visible or barely visible<\/li>\n<li><strong>First 6 months:<\/strong> rapid growth (proliferation phase)<\/li>\n<li><strong>12 to 15 months:<\/strong> start of spontaneous regression (involution phase)<\/li>\n<li><strong>5 to 6 years:<\/strong> largely regressed in most children<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Premature babies and girls are more frequently affected.<\/p>\n<h2>Where do hemangiomas occur on the eye?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>On the upper eyelid:<\/strong> the most common location in the eye area. A hemangioma on the eyelid appears as a reddish-bluish, soft swelling.<\/li>\n<li><strong>In the eye socket (orbit):<\/strong> not visible from the outside, but the eyeball may bulge forward.<\/li>\n<li><strong>On the conjunctiva:<\/strong> rarer, visible as a reddish raised area on the eye surface.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why can hemangiomas on the eye endanger vision?<\/h2>\n<h3>Hemangioma on the eyelid<\/h3>\n<p>A hemangioma on the upper eyelid can, through pressure on the eyeball, change its shape and cause a corneal curvature (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/glossar\/astigmatism\/\">astigmatism<\/a>). If this is not corrected in time, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/glossar\/amblyopia\/\">amblyopia (lazy eye)<\/a> can develop. If the hemangioma also covers the pupil, the visual axis is blocked, a particularly urgent situation.<\/p>\n<h3>Hemangioma in the eye socket<\/h3>\n<p>A hemangioma inside the orbit can compress the eyeball, change its shape, and likewise cause astigmatism and amblyopia. In rare cases it can restrict eye movements (squint) or compress the optic nerve.<\/p>\n<h2>Does every hemangioma on the eye need treatment?<\/h2>\n<p>No. Most hemangiomas in the eye area are simply observed, since they regress on their own. Treatment is only necessary when the hemangioma threatens visual development, for example through astigmatism, covering of the visual axis, or pressure on the optic nerve.<\/p>\n<h2>Treatment options<\/h2>\n<h3>Medication<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Propranolol (oral):<\/strong> a beta-blocker that slows growth and accelerates regression. Propranolol is today considered the first-line therapy for hemangiomas requiring treatment. At the start of therapy, heart rate and blood pressure are closely monitored.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Timolol eye drops (topical):<\/strong> can be effective for small, superficial hemangiomas on the eyelid.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Atenolol:<\/strong> an alternative to propranolol.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Cortisone<\/h3>\n<p>Steroids (as tablets, injection directly into the tumor, or as a cream) used to be the treatment of choice. Due to possible side effects (growth retardation, cataract, raised intraocular pressure), they are used less often today.<\/p>\n<h3>Laser treatment<\/h3>\n<p>Superficial, thin hemangiomas can be treated with laser procedures to stop growth, reduce size, or lighten the color.<\/p>\n<h3>Surgical removal<\/h3>\n<p>In rare cases, surgical removal is useful, for example for small, clearly defined tumors just under the skin.<\/p>\n<h2>Accompanying measures<\/h2>\n<p>Regardless of whether the hemangioma is treated or not, the following measures are important:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Regular checks of visual acuity and glasses values<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/glossar\/childrens-glasses\/\">Glasses<\/a> correction for astigmatism<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/angebot\/amblyopia-treatment\/\">Amblyopia therapy<\/a> (patch or drops) if reduced vision is present<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Our advice<\/h2>\n<p>If you notice a redness or swelling on your baby's eyelid that grows larger in the first weeks of life, have it assessed by an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/\">ophthalmologist<\/a> promptly. Most hemangiomas are harmless and regress on their own, but a timely assessment and monitoring of vision are important to prevent amblyopia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A capillary hemangioma, colloquially also called a &#8220;strawberry mark&#8221; or &#8220;blood sponge&#8221;, is a benign vascular tumor that consists of small, abnormally grown blood capillaries. In the area of the eyes, a hemangioma can affect vision and therefore requires ophthalmological monitoring. Course Capillary hemangiomas follow a typical growth pattern: Birth: usually not yet visible or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_wpce_doc":"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