Eye Diseases and Conditions Slideshow Pictures Pink Eye Slideshow Pictures Cataracts Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Black Eye Symptoms

• Pain and swelling are the most common signs and symptoms of a black eye.
  
  
  • Initially, the swelling and discoloration may be mild. The eye often starts off slightly reddened, then progresses to a darker shade.
    
    
  • Ultimately, the skin around the eye becomes deep violet, yellow, green, or black in color.
    
    
  • Swelling increases as discoloration progresses.
    
    
  • Over the course of a few days, the area becomes lighter and the swelling decreases.

• Although some blurry vision or difficulty opening the eye may occur because of the swelling, more serious visual problems are less common.

• Headache may also be present, because the usual cause of a black eye is some sort of head injury.

• Signs of a more serious injury are:
  
  
  • 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