Black Eyes

Black eyes occur when the eye or eye area comes into contact with an object, and bruises. The most important thing is to watch for any serious injury to the actual eyeball, or impairment of sight.

If you have blurred or double vision, bright flashes of light in the peripheral vision can be an indication of a detached retina, and unequal pupils are a sign of a concussion.

If your eyes are sensitive to light, have excessive ‘floaters’ or specks in your field of vision, or you have pain in your eye, instead of just around it, or if you have any doubt at all, or any reason to suspect head injuries, it is a good idea to seek a professional medical examination and advice.

If no symptom besides the bruise is present, chances are you can relax, but it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to eyesight.

Home Remedies for Black Eyes:

Chilling:

Remember when the old remedy for a black eye was to slap steak on the injured eye?

Well, it was not the steak that helped.

It was the cold compress. Just use an ice pack, ice in a zipper bag, or a package of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a towel (ice directly on the skin can cause ice burns or frost bite) to reduce the swelling, and massage the area lightly with castor oil, to reduce bruising and promote fast healing.

Keep the cold compress on the eye for about 20 minutes, then remove it. If necessary, after 10 minutes you can reapply it. This home remedy can be continued off and on for about three days, or until the swelling is gone.

Pineapple and Papaya:

Eating pineapple and papaya, or cocktails of both are natural home cures that can help a black eye. An enzyme found in these two fruits actually changes the molecular structure of the blood, allowing it to be more rapidly reabsorbed by the body.

Papaya capsules are also sold in health food stores, and 600 milligrams, in capsule form, can be taken four times a day to promote faster healing of your black eye.

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C is a well-documented healer, and for anyone who bruises easily, getting plenty of Vitamin C in your diet is a very good idea.

If you have a black eye, take a Vitamin C complex supplement daily, and increase your daily intake of Vitamin C rich foods, such as broccoli, mangos, peppers, sweet potatoes, pineapple and papaya, to speed healing.

Avoid:

Avoid aspirin, tylenol, or ibuprofen, as they have blood thinning properties and can actually make the bruising worse.