An accidental hit in the face can cause the so-called black eye, which is a contusion of tissues around the eye. What can you do to relieve symptoms and when to seek an ophthalmologist? We asked Dr. Antonio Voza, Head of Emergency Medicine at Humanitas.
Sport eye!
Returning from the playing field or the gym with a black eye is quite frequent. This is one of the most common eye injuries. According to the American Association of Family Physicians, these injuries are mostly associated with sports such as basketball or baseball, some of the most popular sports disciplines in the United States. It is not difficult to imagine a reason for getting a black eye: a ball in the face, among other things, can certainly cause a black eye. Additionally, it can be a result of an involuntary blow during a contact game, or in training.
The blow in the face may directly affect the eye or may injure the nose and have repercussions on the eyes. Even a head injury may result in a black eye. Symptoms also include pain and swelling, which occurs due to an accumulation of fluids, potentially worsening with the passage of time. The skin in the peri-orbital area changes color, by first becoming red and then darker, taking on different shades. The bruising that appears is due to subcutaneous bleeding.
Ice in the form of an ice bag or cubes wrapped in a cloth can be applied on the area to reduce swelling and relieve pain. This remedy should be repeated for a few days, several times a day for about ten to twenty minutes being careful not to put pressure on the affected area. The popular remedy of using a slice of raw meat on the eye is absolutely to be avoided according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. However, it may be useful to keep your head high, for example on a pair of cushions, in order to reduce swelling.
Doctor’s recommendations
Immediately after the head blow, the eyesight may be temporarily tarnished and it will be important to evaluate the symptoms that directly affect this important organ. The trauma that caused the black eye, in fact, could be much more serious and cause an alteration of the eyesight such as diplopia (double vision), loss of vision, intraocular bleeding and the inability to move the eye.
Therefore, in the presence of more worrisome symptoms, compared to simple swelling, pain and bruising, it is advisable to contact an Emergency department with eye care counselor. The physician will in fact submit the patient to some specialized tests that are able to verify and quantify the damage and possibly intervene.
