Black eye - what to do?

Course of the hematoma

A black eye, colloquially violet, is a bruise (Hematoma) around the eye. It occurs as part of an external impact from a blow or fall.

It takes around two weeks for the skin around the eye to turn completely normal. Until then, the injury undergoes a typical sequence of discoloration. The color of the bruise shows the extent of the injury and the healing progress:

1. At first the "blue eye" is red and swollen because vessels have been injured and blood leaks into the surrounding tissue.
2. In the following days, the swelling slowly subsides, the skin turns purple-blue and the blood begins to clot.
3. Then the discoloration turns into brown, green and finally yellow. These color changes are explained by the composition of the blood components still present in the injured tissue and the breakdown of hemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells (Erythrocytes).

In the end, a black eye is nothing more than a bruise or bruise (hematoma) on the eye and thus goes through the typical stages that everyone has already observed on their own shins.

Also read: Bruise in the eye.

How long does a black eye stay?

How long it takes for a black eye to go away depends on the overall physical condition, the severity of the swelling and other injuries to the eye.

In a healthy young person, after going through the typical discoloration, the black eye should go away in about 7 to 14 days. This process can be delayed in older people, whose wound healing is generally slower.

Even if there are diseases such as diabetes mellitus that impair the immune system, healing can be delayed for days and weeks.

In the end, the healing time depends on the size of the bruise (Hematoma) and the amount of swelling around the eye.

Read more on the topic:

• Swelling of the eye
• Swelling under the eyes

Illustration blue eye

Black eye - what to do?
Duration of healing (approx. 7-14 days)
Depending on the severity of the swelling,
Age, overall physical condition
Causes:
I - punch (boxing match, brawl)
Impact (ball sports, bicycle accident)
II - fall
III - after wisdom tooth surgery
IV - by mosquito bite
Typical stages:

1. Bleeding in the lid area of ​​the eye
   Bruise - Hematoma
   (red, swollen)
2. Blood begins to clot
   Swelling is slowly going down
   (purple - blue)
3. Breakdown of hemoglobin
   (brown, green to yellow)
   Therapy:
   A - rapid cooling (1st - 2nd day) -
   Cooling iron, ice cubes,
   Cool batteries - about 30 minutes
   B - After that - moist heat
   (warm compress)
   C - arnica - (ointment, tincture, globules).
   Heparin ointment
   D - to keep your head high at night

You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations

Symptoms

Blue eyelid

In the context of a blue eye, the upper and lower eyelids are also often affected. In most cases, the hematoma spreads periorbital, i.e. in the area around the eye socket. One speaks of a monocular hematoma if it occurs on one side, both sides are called a spectacle hematoma.

swelling

In addition to a hematoma, the eye can also be swollen. This can cause discomfort when closing your eyes and even impaired vision. The best way to counteract the swelling is cooling or the application of cooling and decongestant ointments such as arnica.

Pain

Most of the time, a black eye is associated with pain. Tissue irritation in the form of a prick or blunt force leads to pain. However, these should go away as the hematoma fades. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as diclofenac or ibuprofen can help.

a headache

Headaches can also be associated with a black eye. To be on the safe side, however, it is advisable to have this clarified by a doctor. Cerebral haemorrhage, which can lead to severe headaches, must be ruled out, especially after a fall or a blow to the eye. In the event of a bite, you have to rule out that any pathogens that may be present do not spread to the meninges or the brain itself and thus cause headaches.

therapy

cooling

In the Treatment of a hematoma (bruise) on the eye, like all bruises, is one particularly fast cooling necessary immediately after causing the stain.
For this is a so-called Cooling iron common with boxers, which already has the shape adapted to the shape of the bones around the eyes.
Alternatively, they can be wrapped in a towel Ice cubes or ice packs help to cool the black eye sufficiently. It is important to note that the ice no direct contact with the skin, as this can lead to frostbite.
The duration of cooling should be at least 30 minutes be. A simultaneous spreading of the tissue promotes a contraction (contraction) of the blood vessels through the thereby achieved expansion of the tissue. This reduces further bleeding into the tissue.

Which ointments help?

• Heparin ointment

There are different heparin ointments. Heparin is a substance produced by the body that increases the effects of another substance called antithrombin. Antithrombin inhibits blood clotting and thus thins the blood. The blood cells in the tissue can be transported away more quickly. This is helpful in treating a hematoma.

• Hirudoid ointment

Hirudoid ointment contains the active ingredient chondroitin polysulphate. This compound is similar in structure to heparin, an endogenous substance that inhibits blood clotting and thus liquefies the blood. It is ensured that a bruise does not appear in the first place or that it disappears more quickly.

• Arnica ointment

Arnica is a medicinal plant whose active ingredient prevents the formation of inflammatory substances, so-called cytokines. Therefore, it works well against inflammation and swelling. These often occur in connection with a black eye.

Home remedies

Many injured heroes are known from action films cold raw steak put on her black eye. The achieved cooling makes perfect sense, but raw meat can Putrefactive bacteria included that become a Infection of the eye and in the worst case even to Loss of vision being able to lead.

There are a few, however good effective home remediesthat can accelerate healing without any danger. Professional boxers use a so-called Cooling ironthat is placed on the violet and so the Relieves swelling. Even if you don't have a cooling iron on hand, you should definitely go for a Cooling the affected area to care. Suitable for this, for example Cold packs, Ice cubes or Frozen vegetables, in the wrapped in clean cloth and ideally remain on for the entire first day. Because a black eye is nothing more than one bruise As is the case with the rest of the body, the cold causes the vessels to contract and less blood escapes, which explains the decongestant effect.

We recommend using one in the following days warm compresswhich can simply consist of a clean sheet soaked in warm water. The heat becomes the Increased blood flow, promoting the healing process.

arnica is a tried and true Medicinal plant which has a decongestant and calming effect. It can be used as an ointment (Arnica ointment) or tincture can be applied to the affected area several times a day or taken as globules.

Another trick is that head especially at night with multiple pillows to store highso that the accumulating water can drain away more easily according to the law of gravity and the swelling goes down.

Complications

It can rarely happen that a bruise (bruise, hematoma) does not heal on its own.In this case, inflammation or encapsulation of the tissue bleeding occurs and usually occurs when the bruise is particularly large. These bruises can then be surgically drained under local anesthesia.

A bruise is particularly dangerous if the bleeding is in the area of ​​the brain (cerebral haemorrhage). An internal bruise can also be dangerous. With blood-thinning medication or hemophilia, a hematoma can also be dangerous and also occur particularly easily.

Normally such bruises (bruises, hematomas) can now be treated very well by dissolving them with medication or surgically removing them.

Orbital floor fracture

A blow to the eyeball can lead to an orbital floor fracture, i.e. a fracture of the floor of the eye socket, also known as a blow-out fracture. As a result of the incursion into the maxillary sinus, there is a possibility that the soft tissues of the eye can be pinched.
Symptoms of the orbital floor fracture can be endophthalmos, i.e. an eyeball that has receded into the skull, a restricted downward turn of the gaze, double vision when looking up, sensory disturbances such as tingling or numbness in the area under the eye or injuries to the eye such as bleeding.
An orbital floor fracture can often be diagnosed just by looking at the patient. In any case, an X-ray and usually a CT or MRI will be performed.
Therapy always consists of surgical treatment.

Reasons for a Black Eye

Black eye from mosquito bite

Mosquitoes and their bites are annoying, but only in the rarest of cases of concern. Can be particularly uncomfortable Insect bites however, the face, especially the eyes. Since the skin here is very thin and padded with little subcutaneous fat, swelling caused by insect bites is particularly noticeable. The mosquito's saliva also contains proteins, which are a Prevent blood clottingso that closure of the tiny puncture site is slow. This can result in spite of the harmless cause too extensive hematomas which can be all the more unsettling because of their location.

Nevertheless, in almost all cases the bruise looks significantly worse than the actual finding. If there is no subsequent infection at the injection site, there is nothing to worry about. This makes up for the classic Signs of infection noticeable, to which in particular an increase in swelling, including one Redness and warming, such as Pain counting.

Read more on this topic under: inflammation insect bite

Black eye overnight

Blue eyes are a form of hematoma that forms around the eye. So they are ultimately due to bleeding. That they form at night is unusual, but can still happen. Play here often Oozing bleeding a role that was triggered by injuries the previous evening and only bleed very slowly into the subcutaneous fatty tissue. This can result in a large, painful bruise overnight. But also an easy one Strike with your own handwhich does not even lead to an awakening, can be sufficient to lead to the rupture of the smallest vessels, since the skin around the eye is very thin and therefore sensitive.

However, if you frequently have black eyes for no apparent reason or if you are generally very prone to bruising and slow wound healing, it is advisable to consult a doctor. A Bleeding disorder, which can be based on various causes, could be the cause here. This can usually be clarified quickly and then treated appropriately depending on the cause.

Black eye after wisdom tooth surgery

Hematomas are a typical side effect of surgical removal Wisdom teeth, especially those of the upper jaw. Only a few patients have postoperatively neither swelling nor bruising in the area of ​​the cheeks or eyes. This is simply by the proximity of the upper jawbone and floor of the orbit. A black eye as a result of a wisdom tooth operation is in principle not to worry. This does not cause permanent damage or impairment of wound healing and the bleeding will subside within a few days.

Nevertheless, the development of a hematoma can at least to a certain extent be prevented, or the worsening of a blue eye can be counteracted. The best possible treatment here is that Cooling the wound. Ideally, this is done within the first 24 hours after the operation every 20 minutes (the 20-minute cooling is followed by a 20-minute break). As with cooling other injuries, however, care should be taken not to over-cool. The local anesthesia during the operation can make it difficult to assess the cooling effect. In any case, there should be a towel or something similar between the cooling pack and the skin.

Black eye with no injury

Blue eyes and bruises in general can also occur without external force. Exact reasons for the sudden rupture of a small blood vessel are rarely found. A sudden black eye is therefore not worrying at first. However, if you notice more frequent bruises on the body for which you cannot think of a cause, this may be a reason for a doctor's visit. A Bleeding disorder underlie.

Cover and make-up

A black eye can appear very dominant and is often perceived as embarrassing by those affected. So it is understandable that most people do not want to expose themselves to unpleasant questions and try to cover up the black eye as much as possible.

Before starting to put make-up on a black eye, you should wait until the swelling has subsided. In the first few days, the healing process should be the top priority. For this, it is important to cool the eyes in the first one to two days, then the application of moist heat. This can stop further bleeding and thus reduce the extent of the blue eye. Starting to apply makeup immediately could also further damage the tissues and blood vessels that are sensitive after the injury.

The best result can then be achieved when applying make-up using a liquid corrective concealer. These not only have the advantage that they are distributed more evenly on the skin. They also have to exert less pressure on the skin. In contrast to normal concealers, corrective concealers have the function of covering up discoloration.
This is done according to the complementary color principle. A black eye in the early stages (when it is actually blue to dark purple) should be covered with a yellow concealer. If the violet later begins to turn reddish, you may want to switch to a green corrective concealer. A normal concealer can then always be applied over the correction concealer, which better suits the individual skin tone.

The easiest way to apply it is with your fingers, ideally with your ring finger, with which only little pressure can be applied. It should also be ensured that the masking cream is blended from the inside out so that no particles get into the eye itself. Once the colored masking cream has dried well, it is advisable to apply another layer of masking cream in your own skin color to smooth out irregularities and make the result appear more natural.

The color gradient of the blue eye from reddish blue to dark blue due to enzyme-related hemoglobin degradation, to green and then from about the seventh day into reddish yellow due to the degradation of hemoglobin to bile pigment, cannot be completely prevented.

Read what you can do if yours bruise does not go away.