A blow to the eye
A blow to the eye with a hard object can damage the eye, eyelids, and muscles or bones that surround the eye. As examples, this type of injury could be caused by a blunt object such as a hammer, a ball or other sports equipment, and a fist or foot.
If someone is hit hard enough the bone surrounding the eye could be fractured.
Signs and symptoms
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising – commonly known as a ‘black eye’
- Possible bleeding
- Redness of the eye
- Headache
Treatment
- Gently hold an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the area around the eye for about 10 to 20 minutes. Ice should not be put directly on the skin
- The casualty should be advised to repeat regularly during the first one to two days and after the first two days, to gently apply a warm (not hot) heat pack or cloth to the area regularly during the day
The casualty should seek medical assistance if:
- They have a headache that does not go away, or blurry vision
- The area around the eye is warm or leaking pus
- Their temperature is very high, or they feel hot and shivery
- They are taking blood-thinning medicine or have a bleeding disorder such as haemophilia
The casualty should go to the hospital if they:
- Have blood in the eye
- Have an irregularly shaped pupil
- Had a blow to the head and have bruising around both eyes (this could suggest a skull fracture)
- Had a blow to the head and lost consciousness or have vomited
- Have problems with their vision or pain when looking at a bright light
- Cannot move their eye