A black eye, also known as shine or medically as periorbital hematoma, refers to bruising around the eye. Since bruising is a discoloration, it may affect a person’s overall appearance and in some people, their self-esteem. The following are the causes, signs and symptoms, and home remedies for black eye.
A black eye has many causes. According to Medicine Net, a blow to the eye, nose, or forehead is the most common cause and either eyes may be affected, depending on where the blow hits. As per the publication, a blow to the nose usually causes both eyes to swell, since the swelling from the nasal injury results to fluid collection in the loose tissues of the eyelids. Other causes of black eye include surgical procedures that involve the face like nose surgery, jaw surgery, and facelift; basilar skull fracture or raccoon eyes, a type of head injury, in which both eyes sell and blacken; allergic reactiosn; bite; cellulitis; angioedema; and dental infections, among others.
Signs and Symptoms
A black eye presents various symptoms. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the symptoms include pain around the eye; swelling around the eye, which has increasing intensity; difficulty in opening the eye related to swelling; discoloration or bruising around the eye (from ted to purple, yellow, green, and then black; and blurred vision. As per the publication, a more serious head injury presents symptoms like double vision, vision loss, blood on the eyeball surface, inability to move the eye, severe or ongoing headache, fainting or loss of consciousness, and blood or fluid coming from the ears or nose.
Treatment of black eye usually involves administration of pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen; although aspirin is not part of the regimen, since it increases the person’s risk of bleeding. Also, remedies can be done at home to manage the condition.
One remedy for black eye is cold application, since this decreases swelling by vasocontriction or narrowing of the blood vessel lumen. According to NLDA, the person just takes a piece of ice and rubs it gently around the traumatized eye. Cold application also promotes a numbing effect; thus, it helps reduce the pain intensity felt in the area. As per the publication, ice can be applied on the black eye every hour for the first 24 hours to see fast results. While ice may be used as cold application to the affected eye, frozen steak should not be used, since it may promote infection in the area; this may worsen the condition in the process.
Another remedy for black eye is warm therapy, which promotes blood circulation to the tissues surrounding the affected eye. With circulation, oxygen and nutrients will be adequately delivered to the area, promoting faster healing and recovery. According to Top 10 Home Remedies, the person dips a clean cloth in warm water. Next, the excess water is squeezed. Then, the warm cloth is placed on the affected eye until the cloth becomes cool. The procedure is done several times a day. Along with warm compress, massaging the affected area also promotes blood circulation and removal of accumulated blood under the skin.
Vitamin C is also a remedy for black eye. Along with its immune boosting properties, vitamin C also promotes the function of the substance collagen, which binds loosely connected tissues and cells. With this, the vitamin helps promote the healing process in the affected area. According to All About Vision, the vitamin also promotes blood vessel strength and reduces the risk of leaks following blunt trauma.