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February 9, 2012
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Black Eye (cont.)

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When to Seek Medical Care

Most black eyes are minor injuries that heal on their own in a few days with ice and pain medications.An ophthalmologist should examine the injured eye to make surethat no significant injury to the eye has occurred.

  • Call your doctor if these conditions develop with a black eye:

    • Changes in vision

    • Severe pain continues

    • The swelling is not related to an injury

    • Signs of infection (for example, warmth, redness, pus-like drainage).

    • You are unsure about treatment or concerned about symptoms.

    • Behavioral changes, forgetfulness, or lethargy

    • Nausea, vomiting, and/or dizziness

    • Swelling does not start to improve after a few days.

  • Seek immediate medical care for these conditions:

    • Changes in or loss of vision, especially double vision

    • Inability to move the eye itself (for example, unable to look in different directions)

    • Any injury in which you think an object pierced the eye or may be inside the eyeball

    • Obvious blood in the eye itself

    • Deformity to the eye or fluid leaking from the eyeball

    • Any lacerations (cuts) to theeye area

  • Go to a hospital's emergency department if you have signs of a serious head or facial injury:

    • Broken bones

    • Broken teeth

    • Loss of consciousness (knocked out)

    • Change in behavior after the injury

    • Nausea, vomiting, and/or dizziness after the injury

    • Inability to walk after the injury

    • Blood or clear fluids from the nose or the ears

    • Lacerations to the face or the head


  • People who take blood thinners, [for example, warfarin (Coumadin)], or those with a history of bleeding problems such as hemophilia, should go to a hospital's emergency department.

  • Swelling either after a bee sting near the eye or from a suspected infection of the eye should be evaluated by a doctor.

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