Black eye facts
Black eye introduction
A black eye often results from injury to the face or the head, and is caused when blood and other fluids collect in the space around the eye. Swelling and dark discoloration result in a "black eye" – sometimes called a "shiner."
Most black eyes are relatively minor injuries. Many heal on their own in a few days, but they may signify a more serious injury.
Despite the name, "black eye," the eye itself is not usually injured. The tissues around the eye may be significantly discolored and swollen without any injury to the eye itself, like a bruise (ecchymosis) around the eye.
The skin around the eye is very loose, with mostly fat underneath it and fluid accumulates easily in this area. The skin around the eye is one of the first places to swell when the facial area is injured. Depending on the location and type of injury, one or both eyes may be affected. Injuries to the eyebrow, nose, and forehead area often result in black eyes because gravity pulls the blood and inflammatory fluid into the soft tissues under and around the eyes.
As a black eye heals, the swelling around the eye decreases, and the bruise gradually fades away. The bruising will usually start out a very dark purple, and as it fades, it may change to light purple, then greenish, then yellow before disappearing.
What causes a black eye?
The most common cause of a black eye is a blow to the eye, nose, or forehead. Depending on where the blow lands, one or both eyes may be affected.
A blow to the nose often causes both eyes to swell because the swelling from the nasal injury causes fluid to collect in the loose tissues of the eyelids.
Other causes of black eye include:
Other causes of swelling around the eye include (these conditions do not necessarily make the skin turn black and blue around the eye):
What are the signs and symptoms of a black eye?
Edema (swelling) and pain are the most common signs and symptoms of a black eye, and may be accompanied by discoloration caused by bruising.
Initially, the swelling and discoloration may be mild. The area around the eye often starts off slightly reddened, and then progresses to a darker shade and swelling increases. Some blurry vision or difficulty opening the eye may occur, but more serious visual problems are less common. Over the course of a few days, the area becomes lighter and the swelling decreases.
Signs of a more serious injury are double vision, loss of sight, or inability to move the eye. Loss of consciousness, blood or clear fluid coming out of the nose or the ears, blood on the surface of the eye itself, or persistent headache can also indicate a severe injury.
When should I call the doctor for a black eye?
Most black eyes are minor injuries that heal on their own in a few days with ice and OTC pain medications. Depending on the mechanism of injury and accompanying symptoms, an ophthalmologist might have to examine the injured eye to make sure that no significant injury to the eye has occurred.
Call a doctor if the patient:
Patient's should consult a health care practitioner any time they are unsure about treatment or concerned about symptoms.
Some conditions require immediate medical care. Call 9-1-1 or get to an emergency department immediately in the following situations:
Learn more about: Coumadin
Learn more about: Coumadin
How is a black eye diagnosed?
FFor most black eyes, a doctor will perform a physical exam and will ask about the injury and look for any associated injuries or symptoms.
The physician will shine a light into the patient's eyes to look at the pupils and inside the eye itself for any injury, and to check for foreign bodies or abrasions on the eye. They will test the motion of the patient's eye (following the doctor's finger with his/her eyes), and examine the facial bones around the eye.
Depending on what is found, the doctor may perform additional testing. An X-ray or a CT scan may be performed if the doctor suspects a fracture to the bones of the face or around the eye (the orbit) or that something is inside the eye.
If there are any special concerns, the doctor may refer the patient to a specialist, such as an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery), for follow-up care.
What is the treatment for a black eye?
Home remedies
Home remedies for black eye include rest and ice applied early after the injury help to decrease swelling and pain.
Ice helps decrease swelling by constricting blood vessels, by decreasing fluid accumulation, and by cooling and numbing the area.
FFor simple, uncomplicated black eyes, the treatment prescribed by health care professionals is similar to home treatment:
Learn more about: Tylenol
Avoid possibly injurious activities until after the eye has healed.
For more complicated injuries, the patient may be referred to an appropriate specialist; such as an ophthalmologist, who can treat the patient's injuries to the eye itself, or an otorhinolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat [ENT]), or an oral/maxillofacial surgeon for fractures to the face.
What are the complications of black eye?
Black eye in itself usually is a minor condition that resolves on its own. Severe injuries, especially forceful blunt trauma to the eye area may result in complications.
Traumatic uveitis and iritis(iritis is a type of uveitis) results from blunt trauma to the eye. A black eye may be the first sign of this condition. Iritis generally affects only one eye. Signs and symptoms of uveitis (and iritis) may include:
Any of these symptoms should be brought to the attention of a physician.
Hyphema is an accumulation of blood in the front (anterior) chamber of the eye following injury and can cause damage to the interior tissues of the eye. The amount of blood may be too small to see with the naked eye, or the entire front of the eye may fill with blood.
Glaucoma may also result from blunt trauma to the eye, and can occur immediately or years later. The force of the trauma can cause bleeding inside the eye which leads to an increase in eye pressure, and damages the optic nerve. Delayed onset glaucoma (angle recession glaucoma) can occur as scar tissue from the injury builds in the eye.
Orbital floor fracture (blowout fracture) may also occur as a result of the forceful blunt trauma to the eye. The force of the blow pushes the eyeball further into the eye socket, fracturing the very thin walls of bone that make up the eye socket. This can lead to pinching (entrapment) of the optic nerve and the muscles that move the eye. Loss of vision or double vision can result and must be treated emergently.
Retinal detachment can result in permanent vision loss. Trauma to the eye can lift or pull the retina from its normal position, lining the back of the eyeball. Symptoms include partial or total loss of vision or flashing lights or spots in the field of vision and must be treated immediately.
Picture of the anatomy of the eye
What causes a black eye?
The most common cause of a black eye is a blow to the eye, nose, or forehead. Depending on where the blow lands, one or both eyes may be affected.
A blow to the nose often causes both eyes to swell because the swelling from the nasal injury causes fluid to collect in the loose tissues of the eyelids.
Other causes of black eye include:
Other causes of swelling around the eye include (these conditions do not necessarily make the skin turn black and blue around the eye):
What are the signs and symptoms of a black eye?
Edema (swelling) and pain are the most common signs and symptoms of a black eye, and may be accompanied by discoloration caused by bruising.
Initially, the swelling and discoloration may be mild. The area around the eye often starts off slightly reddened, and then progresses to a darker shade and swelling increases. Some blurry vision or difficulty opening the eye may occur, but more serious visual problems are less common. Over the course of a few days, the area becomes lighter and the swelling decreases.
Signs of a more serious injury are double vision, loss of sight, or inability to move the eye. Loss of consciousness, blood or clear fluid coming out of the nose or the ears, blood on the surface of the eye itself, or persistent headache can also indicate a severe injury.
When should I call the doctor for a black eye?
Most black eyes are minor injuries that heal on their own in a few days with ice and OTC pain medications. Depending on the mechanism of injury and accompanying symptoms, an ophthalmologist might have to examine the injured eye to make sure that no significant injury to the eye has occurred.
Call a doctor if the patient:
Patient's should consult a health care practitioner any time they are unsure about treatment or concerned about symptoms.
Some conditions require immediate medical care. Call 9-1-1 or get to an emergency department immediately in the following situations:
Learn more about: Coumadin
Learn more about: Coumadin
How is a black eye diagnosed?
FFor most black eyes, a doctor will perform a physical exam and will ask about the injury and look for any associated injuries or symptoms.
The physician will shine a light into the patient's eyes to look at the pupils and inside the eye itself for any injury, and to check for foreign bodies or abrasions on the eye. They will test the motion of the patient's eye (following the doctor's finger with his/her eyes), and examine the facial bones around the eye.
Depending on what is found, the doctor may perform additional testing. An X-ray or a CT scan may be performed if the doctor suspects a fracture to the bones of the face or around the eye (the orbit) or that something is inside the eye.
If there are any special concerns, the doctor may refer the patient to a specialist, such as an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery), for follow-up care.
What is the treatment for a black eye?
Home remedies
Home remedies for black eye include rest and ice applied early after the injury help to decrease swelling and pain.
Ice helps decrease swelling by constricting blood vessels, by decreasing fluid accumulation, and by cooling and numbing the area.
FFor simple, uncomplicated black eyes, the treatment prescribed by health care professionals is similar to home treatment:
Learn more about: Tylenol
Avoid possibly injurious activities until after the eye has healed.
For more complicated injuries, the patient may be referred to an appropriate specialist; such as an ophthalmologist, who can treat the patient's injuries to the eye itself, or an otorhinolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat [ENT]), or an oral/maxillofacial surgeon for fractures to the face.
What are the complications of black eye?
Black eye in itself usually is a minor condition that resolves on its own. Severe injuries, especially forceful blunt trauma to the eye area may result in complications.
Traumatic uveitis and iritis(iritis is a type of uveitis) results from blunt trauma to the eye. A black eye may be the first sign of this condition. Iritis generally affects only one eye. Signs and symptoms of uveitis (and iritis) may include:
Any of these symptoms should be brought to the attention of a physician.
Hyphema is an accumulation of blood in the front (anterior) chamber of the eye following injury and can cause damage to the interior tissues of the eye. The amount of blood may be too small to see with the naked eye, or the entire front of the eye may fill with blood.
Glaucoma may also result from blunt trauma to the eye, and can occur immediately or years later. The force of the trauma can cause bleeding inside the eye which leads to an increase in eye pressure, and damages the optic nerve. Delayed onset glaucoma (angle recession glaucoma) can occur as scar tissue from the injury builds in the eye.
Orbital floor fracture (blowout fracture) may also occur as a result of the forceful blunt trauma to the eye. The force of the blow pushes the eyeball further into the eye socket, fracturing the very thin walls of bone that make up the eye socket. This can lead to pinching (entrapment) of the optic nerve and the muscles that move the eye. Loss of vision or double vision can result and must be treated emergently.
Retinal detachment can result in permanent vision loss. Trauma to the eye can lift or pull the retina from its normal position, lining the back of the eyeball. Symptoms include partial or total loss of vision or flashing lights or spots in the field of vision and must be treated immediately.
Picture of the anatomy of the eye
Source: http://www.rxlist.com
The physician will shine a light into the patient's eyes to look at the pupils and inside the eye itself for any injury, and to check for foreign bodies or abrasions on the eye. They will test the motion of the patient's eye (following the doctor's finger with his/her eyes), and examine the facial bones around the eye.
Depending on what is found, the doctor may perform additional testing. An X-ray or a CT scan may be performed if the doctor suspects a fracture to the bones of the face or around the eye (the orbit) or that something is inside the eye.
If there are any special concerns, the doctor may refer the patient to a specialist, such as an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery), for follow-up care.
Source: http://www.rxlist.com
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