How To-81: "How to Treat a Black Eye"

How to Treat a Black Eye

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Black eyes can be embarrassing and nasty, not to mention painful. However, there is something you can do to minimize the pain you experience, the length of time you have your black eye as well as the size and color of it.

Steps

1. Apply ice as soon as you are injured. Your black eye is a bruise, and, like all bruises, it is caused by a build-up of blood underneath the skin that forms after tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, are damaged. Cold temperatures cause these vessels to contract slightly, restricting the amount of blood that is released.
   
2. Remove the ice after fifteen minutes. Extreme cold isn't good for your skin or muscles, and keeping the ice on for too long, especially in a delicate area such as your face, can cause further damage.
   
3. Reapply the ice after you have given your eye fifteen minutes to rest.
   
4. Repeat steps two and three for as long as possible. Don't be afraid to restart the "ice cycle" later on, even a few days after you were injured. Ice will help you heal faster, as well as numbing the pain.
   

Tips

• Be prepared for questions. People may think that you got into a fight or were a victim of domestic abuse. Understand that curiosity is human nature, and, if you are embarrassed about how you got hurt (say, you don't want your new boss to know that you tripped and hit your face on the corner of a table),lie.
  

Warnings

• If you have double vision, or your sight has become fuzzy or unclear, this indicates a more serious injury needing medical assistance.
  
• If you have suffered physical abuse or assault or were injured due to another party's negligence, contact the police or a lawyer. Someone has committed a crime, and it is your responsibility to both aid the legal process and ensure your own safety.
  

Things You'll Need

• Icepack or Small Bag of Ice
  

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