The common occurrence of this injury means that it is imperative to know how to treat a black eye. By definition, a black eye is caused when a minor impact to the face causes the swelling of the area around the eye, leading to fluid accumulation in the affected region. Many injuries that lead to a black eye are minor so that the condition heals on its own after a fortnight or so. In some cases, this does not happen due to the severity of the black eye. This happens when there is an underlying condition, often accompanied by trauma to the head region. In the event that one has two black eyes, they should seek immediate medical attention as this could be indicative of more serious injuries such as fracturing of the skull.
What are the symptoms that one must be on the lookout for when looking to treat a black eye?
- Pain in the region that surrounds the eye. This may be accompanied by swelling of the affected area.
- Discoloration of the area around the eye, and the extent of discoloration will depend on the severity of the injury. In some people, this manifests as redness, and in more serious cases it exhibits itself as blue-black coloration.
- Blurred vision may also occur.
- Headaches following forceful injury to the head. Depending on the nature of the injury, patients may also complain of neck pain.
What is the first aid procedure used to treat a black eye?
Having mentioned that black eyes will usually heal after a week or so, there are steps that you can take to accelerate healing and decrease the pain. Below are the first aid steps that you could take:
- Place an ice pack (wrapped in cloth) over the eye region, taking care to avoid applying too much pressure on the eyeball.
- Repeat this procedure on an hourly basis for the first 24 hours following the injury.
- Ensure that your head is elevated to help reduce swelling.
- Use analgesics to reduce the pain, taking note to avoid aspirin as it may intensify bleeding.
To learn more about how to manage internal bleeding, bruising and other wounds you can enroll in a first aid course.
When does one need to see medical professionals to treat a black eye?
There are signs and symptoms that accompany a black eye and which will necessitate immediate medical attention. Blurred vision that is prolonged warrants medical attention, as does swelling that does not subside after 48 hours. Any injury that results in the perforation of the eyes so that there is an object in the eye, behavioral changes that cannot be explained, as well as fluid drainage from openings on the face require that the patient sees a doctor. Accumulation of blood in the eye is also cause for concern. Some individuals will show signs of concussion, making it crucial to have medical attention to prevent deterioration of the condition. Evidently, the way to treat a black eyewill be dependent on the extent of injury. Severe cases require that a patient receives medical help immediately once first aid has been administered.