A blow to the eye socket and eyelid causes internal bleeding
which colors the skin dark blue or black and produces a swelling.
Immediate treatment involves cold compresses.Do not put raw steak on a black eye.It is ineffective and wasteful. There is always a possibility of damage to the eye itself or
to the head, so have the injury examined by a doctor.
What you should do
Put a
cold compress over the eye to limit the swelling and relieve the pain. To
make the compress, put crushed ice or ice cubes into a plastic bag, add
some salt to encourage the ice to melt, seal the bag and wrap it in a
cloth.Alternatively, soak a small
towel in cold or iced water and wring it out.
Cool
the eye for at least 30 minutes, replacing the compress if it becomes warm
Take
the casualty to a doctor as soon as possible to check that there is no
serious damage to the eye or a fracture of the skull.A blow which is violent enough to
blacken the eye may cause either.
