Vision is the most important of all five senses, and the eye is an extremely complex and precious organ, the health of which must be protected, since ophthalmic diseases are much easier to prevent than to treat. If the patient notices any symptoms of deterioration or changes in vision, or, for example, an eye hematoma occurs, treatment should be provided immediately and in a specialized ophthalmological center. Specialists at the Igor Medvedev International Center for Health Protection have been successfully coping with any ophthalmological pathology for more than 20 years, and the comfortable atmosphere and friendliness of staff at any level accelerate recovery.
Definition
Hematomas (bruises) under the eyes are nothing more than interstitial hemorrhage, when the integrity of the integument is not broken, and blood from damaged vessels remains in the thickness of the tissue, coloring it in a characteristic color. Initially, the hematoma under the eye appears as a bright purple spot, but after a while its color becomes more saturated - dark purple. During the period of resorption, the third stage begins and the bruise acquires a greenish tint, even later it becomes yellow and only after that does the skin return to its natural color.
Treatment
Therapy for a bruise under the eye that is not caused by mechanical impact primarily involves identifying the provoking factor and, if possible, eliminating it. If the condition is caused by low estrogen levels, the woman is prescribed hormonal medications. In some cases, the patient needs to rest and take a course of restorative vitamins.
Pharmacy drugs
Medicines from the pharmacy are aimed at eliminating the symptom - a black eye. To do this, use powder or ointment with badyaga, Troxerutin or Troxevasin gel, Heparin ointment.
Badyaga is a natural component sold in powder form. It is diluted with water, the resulting paste is applied to the area of the bruise under the eye for 10-15 minutes, then removed.
The same effect, but convenient use, is typical for ointments with Badyaga (Badyaga 911). It should be used with caution near the mucous membrane, since the drug contains essential oils.
Another pharmaceutical product is Sinyak Off based on leech extract. It is presented in two types: ointment with a tinting effect and the usual form. Troxevasin and Troxerutin gel are applied to eliminate hematoma, swelling, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and stimulate blood circulation.
Another available remedy is heparin ointment. Resolves bruises, eliminates pain.
Folk remedies
If a bruise appears under the eye, apply a cold object or ice wrapped in cotton cloth.
To reduce swelling and bruising, you can mince a leaf of white cabbage and apply the resulting pulp under the eye to the bruise site for 20 minutes. Then rinse off with running water.
Shredded potatoes and aloe leaf paste applied to a bruise for 30-60 minutes have the same effect. Rinse off with warm water.
Causes of bruises and hematomas under the eye
There are several reasons for a bruise or hematoma under the eye:
- Hemorrhage into the subcutaneous fat layer of the eyelid as a result of head trauma is the most common cause.
- Spontaneous rupture of capillaries in people prone to bruising, with delicate skin and thin vessel walls.
- The use of drugs intended to thin the blood (such as acetylsalicylic acid, etc.).
- Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause blood vessels to rupture.
Paraorbital hematoma
Paraorbital hematoma of the eye (bleeding into the periorbital tissue) occurs as a result of severe traumatic brain injury or concussion. Its appearance is usually accompanied by acute pain, dizziness, and double vision. Paraorbital hematoma can be symmetrical (the so-called glasses syndrome). This is a very alarming symptom; it may mean a fracture of the bridge of the nose, forehead bones or base of the skull. Under no circumstances should you delay going to the doctor, because other symptoms of such a serious injury may not appear immediately.
Causes and symptoms
It is better not to treat periorbital hematoma with home remedies, as improper therapy will cause serious complications. The most common cause of its occurrence is considered to be eye or head injury, concussion (from a blow or fall). Often hemorrhage occurs in the periorbital tissue.
In addition, the cause of paraorbital hematoma can be considered the spontaneous rupture of small vessels with thin walls. Pathology is also provoked by drugs that are intended to thin the blood. For example, this effect often appears in those patients whose pupils were dilated with the help of special medications for additional examination.
All causes of ocular hematoma can be summarized in the following list:
- eye contusion due to blunt trauma;
- severe narrowing of blood vessels or their damage by atherosclerotic plaques;
- diabetic retinopathy;
- systemic pathologies of connective tissues;
- tumor inside the eye.
A hematoma located in the paraorbital area is characterized by the following symptoms:
- acute pain;
- dizziness;
- double vision;
- swelling of the eyelids;
- visual impairment;
- stagnant red color of the eye fiber, and then the color can change shades and become purple.
If the hemorrhage is located symmetrically, this indicates the presence of a fracture of the bridge of the nose.
In principle, a paraorbital hemotoma does not require special diagnostics. An external examination is required, assessing the width of the pupils, their symmetry, and reaction to a light stimulus. But as a result of the injury, the patient may develop other injuries that require treatment. Therefore, the victim will have to have an x-ray of the sinuses, eye sockets, and skull. Moreover, the picture is taken in two projections.
Classification of paraorbital hematomas
- Light hematomas do not appear immediately and occur in various areas of the face with minor mechanical impact. The person feels localized pain. This hematoma will disappear within 1-2 days. A cold compress and healing ointments are sufficient for treatment.
- An average hematoma will make itself felt within a few hours. There is swelling and severe pain. Treatment with medications and folk remedies is necessary.
- A severe hematoma on the face will become noticeable after 1-2 hours. The person experiences increasing pain. Treatment of a severe bruise must be done after consulting a doctor, as surgical intervention may be required.
Criteria for the duration of hematoma
- 0-2 days, the bruising area is swollen and painful on palpation
- 0-5 days, color purple-violet-blue
- 5-7 days, bruises are green
- 7-10 days, yellow
- 10-14 days, brown
- 2-4 weeks, disappear
Since any bruise on the face looks completely unattractive, many people are interested in the question of how long it takes for a black eye to go away. To answer this question, each specific case and the cause of the hematoma should be qualified, based on the following factors:
- what was the force and location of the impact;
- individual characteristics of the organism play a role;
- whether first aid was provided in a timely manner and whether the hematoma was treated appropriately;
- even the weather outside the window affects the rate at which the bruise disappears. Traumatologists note that in the summer, bruises under the eyes last longer.
Causes
The occurrence of a bruise under the eye without mechanical impact or injury may be associated with one of the provoking factors:
- oncological tumor diseases, in particular leukemia;
- the disease vasculitis, in which capillaries, arteries, arterioles, venules and veins become inflamed, become brittle, and bruises appear under the eyes and throughout the body;
- reduced estrogen levels in women, gynecological diseases, hormonal imbalance;
- reduced elasticity of the skin, which occurs in older people;
- chronic form of fatigue;
- insufficient intake of vitamins from food, in particular rutin, ascorbic acid, vitamin K;
- a side effect from taking certain medications, for example, medications to replenish iron in the body, blood thinners, antidepressants;
- the physiological location of the vessels is close to the skin.
Other reasons that provoke a bruise under the eye without a blow, in rare cases, may be an insect bite, a symptom of parasite infection, an allergic reaction, extremely rapid weight loss, etc.
We recommend reading: How long does a black eye last?
Treatment of paraorbital hematomas
There are a huge number of methods that allow you to get rid of hematomas in the shortest possible time, but it is more important to know how to prevent pathology and prevent the appearance of a bruise.
The correct actions in the first hours after an eye injury determine how large and painful the hematoma will be in the future. You need to know that hemorrhage does not stop immediately after injury; the vessel continues to bleed for some time. Therefore, the first thing to do is to stop the bleeding. To do this, a cold or ice compress on the site of the bruise may be enough, which can be kept for 15-20 minutes. Ice wrapped in gauze or a damp cloth is pressed firmly against the skin, which also contributes to a faster constriction of blood vessels. The faster the bleeding is stopped, the smaller the hematoma under the eye will be.
To make the bruise significantly smaller, apply a cold object, such as an ice pack, to the injury site within 10-20 minutes after receiving the blow. If you don't have ice on hand, a cold water bottle, a wet towel, or a metal object will do. Cold causes blood vessels to constrict, which slows down the flow of blood. Traditional healers suggest applying a cabbage leaf, a piece of meat, a banana peel or frozen peas to the injury site. In fact, the effect from them is the same; it is not the products themselves that relieve the bruise, but the cold from them. The best way is to make an ice compress, take a plastic bag and put crushed ice in it. It is recommended not to keep the cold for more than 30 minutes.
use ointments to treat hematomas on the face only for 2 days. We present you a list of the most effective drugs:
- Heparin ointment to reduce bruising;
- Badyaga is a well-known remedy that must be used immediately after a bruise appears;
- Troxevasin. This gel strengthens blood vessels and helps accumulated blood dissolve faster;
- Rescuer is a natural remedy that has been proving its effectiveness for many years;
- Ketanol cream and Indovazin gel relieves pain;
- Homeopathic remedies (traumeel, arnica).
Important
If ordinary bruises do not require treatment, then it is better to get rid of a hematoma under the eye under the supervision of a doctor, especially if it does not decrease over time, but increases, or does not go away within two weeks. Immediately after receiving a head or eye injury, you need to undergo an examination to rule out more serious injuries (intracranial hematoma, retinal detachment, etc.).
How to make a hematoma under the eye disappear as quickly as possible
If the hematoma is inflamed and accompanied by severe pain, the use of symptomatic treatment and painkillers is allowed. During this period, it is recommended to remain calm and reduce the load on the damaged area.
To speed up this process, use products that contain rutin and vitamins C, R. These can be ointments (troxevasin, heparin), creams or tablets. You need to use external products with extreme caution, since the eyeball is close.
Troxevasin is considered the most effective and affordable of medications. Thanks to the drug, the hematoma will disappear in a couple of days. It must be used every hour, lubricating the injured area with ointment. "Troxevasin" is a resorbable drug, however, in addition to its main effect, it strengthens blood vessels, thereby preventing the appearance of new hematomas.
The name of the next drug speaks for itself. “Bruise-OFF” is a very effective remedy for combating hematomas. It relieves swelling and inflammation of the skin, resolves bruises. In addition, the drug has a tonal masking effect, making bruises less noticeable after the first use. Complete resorption of the bruise occurs after 2-3 days; it is recommended to use the product at least 5 times a day.
Physiotherapy for a hematoma on the face is aimed at relieving pain, reducing tissue swelling, and quickly resolving the hemorrhage. The following methods have these properties:
- cryotherapy (treatment with cold, liquid nitrogen);
- application of alcohol compresses;
- ultraphonophoresis.
Folk remedies for the treatment of hematomas on the eye and face are used only in the presence of small hematomas. In this case, they use such means as cabbage leaves, raw potatoes, honey, etc.
Potato compresses
- Grate raw potatoes on a fine grater.
- Wrap in gauze and apply to the hematoma overnight.
- Repeat the procedure until complete recovery.
Such procedures relieve swelling well and help eliminate the inflammatory process. You can use flower honey, it has a resolving and soothing effect. When using these recipes, you should monitor the hematoma: if the condition worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor .
Features of pathology treatment
To cure a periorbital hematoma, it is necessary to first deal with the cause of its occurrence. For example, if a patient has a skull fracture or concussion, he must be hospitalized.
The patient needs complete rest and bed rest. Drug treatment of hematoma is also provided with the help of analgesics (elimination of pain), diuretics (to eliminate swelling), antihypoxants (preventing oxygen starvation of the brain). In case of injury, the patient is also prescribed neuroprotectors. For example, a patient is often prescribed potassium iodide drops, which will need to be used for about a week.
If a hematoma of this type is an independent pathology, then the patient is given an ice compress on the first day after receiving the injury. After this, you can use dry heat, which ensures rapid resorption of the bruise.
Heparin-based ointments provide an excellent effect. In most cases, treatment of hematoma is limited to conservative therapy, which lasts 1–2 weeks. But some situations require surgery. For example, if a person has blood in the eye for more than 10 days, then the clots will have to be removed surgically.
As for anti-inflammatory drugs, you need to be careful when choosing. The fact is that they are able to change the clotting ability of the blood.
Traditional methods of therapy
Despite the fact that unconventional methods are not always welcomed by doctors, there are some useful recipes that can help in the treatment of periorbital hematoma:
- Raw potatoes. It allows you to relieve swelling as quickly as possible. The product needs to be grated on a fine grater, put the pulp on a handkerchief or piece of gauze and apply to the affected area for 20 minutes.
- The ideal option is a paste of cabbage, plantain or parsley leaves. These plants are also great at fighting swelling.
