- Black eye
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This article is about the injury. For other uses, see Black eye (disambiguation).
Black eye Classification and external resources
Illustration of a "black eye".ICD-10 S00.1 ICD-9 921.0 A black eye (Ecchymosis), or (periorbital hematoma) 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
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
References
Nonmusculoskeletal injuries of head (head injury) and neck (S00–S19, 850–854) Intracranial see neurotraumaExtracranial/
facial traumaEither/both M: EYE
anat(g/a/p)/phys/devp/prot
noco/cong/tumr, epon
proc, drug(S1A/1E/1F/1L)
M: EAR
anat(e/p)/phys/devp
noco/cong, epon
proc, drug(S2)
General wounds and injuries (T08-T35, 870-949) General Wound/
traumaBlister (Blood blister • Coma blister • Delayed blister • Edema blister • Fracture blister • Friction blister • Sucking blister)
Bruise/Hematoma/Ecchymosis (Battle's sign, Raccoon eyes, Black eye, Subungual hematoma, Cullen's sign, Grey Turner's sign, Retroperitoneal hemorrhage)
Animal bite: Insect bite · Spider biteAnimal bite: Snakebite · Lizard bite
Ballistic traumaForeign body In alimentary tract (Bezoar)Other By region Categories:- Diseases of the eye and adnexa
- Injuries of head
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