Black eye

Black eye, or 'shiner', is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than eye injury. The name is given due to the color of bruising. The so-called black eye is caused by bleeding beneath the skin and around the eye. Sometimes a black eye indicates a more extensive injury, even a skull fracture, particularly if the area around both eyes is bruised (raccoon eyes) or if there has been a head injury.
Although most black eye injuries aren't serious, bleeding within the eye, called a hyphema, is serious and can reduce vision and damage the cornea. In some cases, abnormally high pressure inside the eyeball (ocular hypertension) also can result.






Presentation and prognosis


Close-up of a black eye after 3 days of formation. The blood has been absorbed, but the iron-laden pigments in the blood remain in the tissue leaving a discoloration that may persist for several weeks or months.
Most black eye injuries are minor and will heal themselves in about one week. Trauma near the eyebrow or places not directly on the eye may make the eyelid go black.
The dramatic appearance (discoloration purple black and blue and swelling) does not necessarily indicate a serious injury. The fatty tissue along with the lack of muscle around the eye socket allows a potential space for blood accumulation with minor injury. As this blood is reabsorbed, various pigments are released similar to a bruise, lending itself to the extreme outward appearance. Unless there is actual trauma to the eye itself, medical attention is generally not needed.




Associated conditions


Eye injury and head trauma may also coincide with a black eye. Some common signs of a more serious injury may include:
Double vision
Loss of sight and or fuzzy vision could occur
Loss of consciousness
Inability to move the eye or large swelling around the eye such as a hematoma
Blood or clear fluid from the nose or the ears
Blood on the surface of the eye itself or cuts on the eye itself
Persistent headache