A black eye involves bruising to the tissue beneath the skin that surrounds the eye. The injury is usually brought about by a direct blow to the face such as being punched or from a fall.
Oftentimes, a black eye might occur after undergoing a cosmetic surgery to the face such as a nose or facelift operation. The area nearby the eye turns bluish or purplish since the miniature blood vessels under the skin break and blood escapes into the adjacent soft tissue.
The skin might be swollen and painful and there is difficulty in fully opening the eye. As for the vision, it is briefly blurry and a headache might be present as well.
What should I do?
This injury is not generally serious and can be cared for at home if there are no indications of severe injury.
After a few days, the swelling around the eye starts to settle and the bruise turns brownish-yellow before completely fading. Similar with any bruise, a black eye typically takes 1-2 weeks to fully heal.
Self-care measures for a black eye
When caring for a black eye, you can help lessen the symptoms with the following measures:
- Apply an ice pack on the skin around the eye right after the injury. The cold numbs the pain and lessens the swelling. During the initial day, the ice pack must be applied on the eye for 15-20 minutes every hour.
- Pain medications can be given to alleviate any discomfort or pain.
A doctor should be consulted if the swelling or pain becomes intense or does not seem to settle or if the injured area is reddened, warm or draining pus.
More Information / Disclaimer
The information posted on this page on black eye is for learning purposes only. Learn to care for this injury by taking a standard first aid course with Saskatoon First Aid.