Q.We were skiing up on Mt. Washington on the weekend and when we came back I noticed the white part of my eye was filled with blood! What happened?

A.You didn’t mention any discomfort or problem with your vision so I assume you suffered a small bleed from a broken blood vessel near the surface of the eye. These sometimes happen from increased pressure around the eye because of an involuntary “Valsalva” maneuver (forcing exhalation against a closed mouth and nose). Lifting the skis, bracing for a tricky run, straining to come off the ski lift, or trying to pop one’s ears while adjusting to different altitudes could have done it. The bleeds are often unsightly but usually go away within a few days. If it’s getting bigger, getting uncomfortable, happening frequently, or affecting the vision, get it checked out.

Alex Kennedy, www.mosaicvisioncare.com