black eye

A black eye is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than an eye injury. The name is given due to the colour of bruising. Most black eye injuries are minor and will heal themselves in about one week. Trauma near the eyebrow or places not directly on the eye may make the eyelid go black.

The dramatic appearance (discoloration and swelling) does not necessarily indicate a serious injury. The fatty tissue along with the lack of muscle around the eye socket lends itself to the extreme outward appearance. Unless there is actual trauma to the eye itself, medical attention is generally not needed.

Eye injury and head trauma may also coincide with a black eye. Some common signs of a more serious injury may include:

• Double vision
• Loss of sight
• Loss of consciousness
• Inability to move the eye
• Blood or clear fluid from the nose or the ears
• Blood on the surface of the eye itself
• Persistent headache