Dude, I Got a Black Eye!

The black eye is usually a very minor bruise that occurs when the soft meaty flesh is smashed against the bones that make up the eye socket.   The usually resolve very well, with little more that ice and rest.  The swelling can be significanty and quite scary in appearance as the eye lids turn purple and swell shut.  The eye needs to be evaluated for several things:

1. Movement of both eyeballs in their full full range. Unequal movement 9like a wandering or lazy eye) may indicate a fracture of the eye socket in which the muscle becomes entrapped.  Go to the hospital for x-rays or CT scan.
2. Despite the prominent swelling of the eyelids, vision should still be about normal in both eyes.
3. It’s obvious that the area around the eye will be tender.  However, if the pain is worse than what you would expect from the size of the bruise, suspect a fracture
4. Any eyeball pain, change in vision, or bleeding should be immediately evaluated by a medical professional.

To take care of a black eye:

• Using gentle pressure, apply a cold pack or a cloth filled with ice to the area around the eye. Take care not to press on the eye itself. Apply cold as soon as possible after the injury to reduce swelling, and continue using ice or cold packs for 24 to 48 hours.
• Be sure there’s no blood in the white and colored parts of the eye.

Seek medical care immediately if you experience vision problems (double vision, blurring), severe pain, or bleeding in the eye or from the nose.