A black eye is also known as a shiner which appears when an injury near the eye occurs. There is a broken blood vessel under the skin which causes a bruise or discoloration to appear. The usual cause of this is blunt force trauma. Swelling is present when you have a black eye.
Definition of Black Eye
Periorbital hematoma is the clinical term for the black eye. A black eye is a condition wherein there is an accumulation of blood in the tissues around the orbit of the eye. The eye socket is thin and transparent which is why even a slight pooling of blood makes the discoloration very noticeable. Any occurrence of blunt force trauma to the area around the eye can result in damaging blood vessels that can lead to the development of a black eye.
The Causes of Black Eye
Accidents are inevitable. It can occur while walking, playing, or even performing daily activities. A black eye is the common result of an accident when an object strikes the area around your eye. The other causes are cosmetic eye surgery, sinus surgery, nasal surgery, dental work, and tooth infections.
Hyphema is bleeding inside the anterior part of the eye which is a serious condition that can occur when you have a black eye. If it is untreated, it can lead to vision loss and increased eye pressure. A subconjunctival hemorrhage is another condition but can be resolved without treatment. It is a condition where the sclera of the eye appears bright red.
Treatment of Black Eye
Before putting anything to your black eye for treatment it is important to consult an eye doctor first. If the following symptoms are present, seek medical attention immediately:
- Hyphema
- Nosebleed
- Dizziness or fainting
- Changes in vision
- Vomiting
- Unable to move the eye
- Change in behavior
- Severe pain
- Both eyes have bruises
- Signs of infection
- Excessive swelling
The home remedy for minor black eyes is cold compress after the injury. Apply it for about 15 to 20 minutes every hour. You can use bags of frozen peas and chilled metal spoons but never raw meat because it can greatly increase the risk of infection. Over-the-counter analgesics can help minor pain but do not use aspirin because it can make your black eye look worse.
Ways to Get Rid of a Black Eye
The healing period of black eyes is not overnight because it takes weeks for it to disappear. These are ways that can help to speed up the healing and improves the appearance of the eye:
- Cold compress after the injury
- Warm compress after a day or two of applying a cold compress
- Massaging the area surrounding the bruise gently
- Take Vitamin C and pineapple
- Use bilberry extract to reduce bruising
