Black Eye
- Black Eye Overview
- Black Eye Causes
- Black Eye Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Questions to Ask the Doctor
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Black Eye Overview
A black eye is a relatively common result of injury to the face or the head, caused when blood and other fluids collect in the space around the eye; swelling and dark discoloration result-hence, the name "black eye."
Most black eyes are relatively minor injuries. Many heal on their own in a few days; however, sometimes they 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. Think of it as a bruise around the eye.
Like a bruise, as a black eye heals, the swelling around the eye decreases, and the bruise gradually fades away.
- The skin around the eye is very loose, with mostly fat underneath. This makes it an ideal site for fluid to accumulate. The effects of gravity also help to swell this part of the face. This is why many people wake up with "puffy" eyes in the morning.
- When there is an injury to the face, the skin around the eye is one of the first places to swell. Depending on the location and type of injury, one or both eyes may be affected.
Next: Black Eye Causes »
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Black Eye
Bruises Overview
A bruise is a common skin injury that results in a discoloration of the skin. Blood from damaged blood vessels deep beneath the skin collects near the surface of the skin resulting in what we think of as a black and blue mark.
Bruises Causes
People typically get bruises when they bump into something or when something bumps into them.
- Bruises can occur in some people who exercise rigorously, such as athletes and weight lifters. These bruises result from microscopic tears in blood vessels under the skin.
- Unexplained bruises that occur easily or for no apparent reason may indicate a bleeding disorder, especially if the bruising is accompanied by frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
- Often, what are thought to be unexplained bruises on the shin or the thigh, for example, actually result from bumps into a bedpost or other object and failing to recall the injury. /...
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Orbital Fracture, Floor »
Orbital floor fractures may result when a blunt object, which is of equal or greater diameter than the orbital aperture, strikes the eye.
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