Overview
A "black eye" occurs like other bruises – the force of
impact causes blood vessels or capillaries to break and
leak fluid and blood pools beneath the skin. A black eye
appears darker and more noticeable than other bruises
because the eyelids and skin surrounding the eye are
thinner than on other parts of the body.
Usually, a black eye is a minor injury that causes no
damage to the eye itself. But if you experience any
change in vision, see your eyecare provider immediately.
In some cases, a black eye also includes bleeding within
the eye – called a "hyphema" – that can damage the
cornea and possibly lead to
glaucoma. Trauma around the eye could also indicate
a fracture to the skull or to the bones that form the
eye socket.
Symptoms
You’ll notice swelling and black-and-blue discoloration
on the eyelids and soft tissues around the eye that
lasts one to two weeks following the injury. There also
may be redness and some bleeding on the white of the eye
and inside the eyelids.
You should seek immediate medical attention if you
experience:
- Any change in vision – such as decreased
clarity, blurry vision or double vision
- A sudden increase in
floaters or you see flashes of light
- Significant redness in the white portion of your
eye
- Difficulty moving your eye, such as not being
able to look up or down
- Numbness on the same side of your face as the
injured eye
- Your injured eye appears to have sunken in or is
bulging out of the eye socket
Prevention
Most black eyes can be prevented by using common sense
and good judgment. Wearing a seat belt when riding in a
car greatly reduces the risk of hitting the dashboard or
steering wheel – once a common cause of this injury
prior to mandatory seat belt laws. And wearing
protective eyewear such as safety goggles, face
shields and sports goggles whenever there’s a chance of
getting hit in or around the eye can prevent up to 90
percent of eye injuries, including black eyes.
Treatment
Apply a cold compress such as a washcloth to the injured
eye for at least 15 minutes to help reduce pain,
swelling and discoloration. Don’t press on the injured
area or apply ice directly; you can wrap a towel around
ice cubes or a bag of frozen vegetables.
Seek medical attention immediately if you experience
any changes in vision, difficulty moving your eye, blood
in the eye itself, or other symptoms of potentially
serious eye damage.
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