Black eyeOverview
A black eye is bruising and swelling around your eye, usually caused by a blow to the area, such as a punch or fall. It should get better within 2 to 3 weeks.
How to ease a black eye yourself
Do
- gently hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a cloth) to the area around your eye for about 10 to 20 minutes at a time, and repeat regularly during the first 1 to 2 days
- take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for any pain
- after the first 2 days, gently apply a warm (not hot) heat pack or cloth to the area around your eye regularly during the day
Don't
- do not take aspirin, unless prescribed by a doctor, as this can make the bruising worse
- do not press or rub the area around your eye
- do not put ice directly on your skin
See a GP if you have a black eye and:
- you have severe pain or swelling
- you have a headache that doesn't go away, or blurry vision
- the area around your eye is warm or leaking pus
- your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery
- it doesn't go away within 3 weeks
Ask for an urgent appointment if you have a black eye and:
- you're taking blood-thinning medication (such as warfarin)
- you have a bleeding disorder (such as haemophilia)
Go to A&E if:
- there's blood visible in your eye
- you have an irregularly shaped pupil (the black dot at the centre of the eye)
- you had a blow to the head and have bruising around both eyes
- you have problems with your vision, such as double vision, loss of vision, seeing flashing light, halos or shadows, or pain when looking at a bright light
- you can't move your eye
Page last reviewed: 25/09/2017
Next review due: 25/09/2020
