Black Eyes Ways to Soothe a Shiner
BLACK EYES Ways to Soothe a Shiner
Johnny reaches for a fly ball, but instead of falling cleanly into his glove, the ball smacks him in the eye. Judy's bike skids on wet leaves and down she goes, banging her head on the ground. Accidents do happen, and tomorrow both Judy and Johnny will be wearing testimony to their mishaps: dark, swollen, black eyes.
While you shouldn't panic at the sight of a shiner on your child, don't laugh it off either. Your child could have suffered a concussion or serious damage to the eye, so it's important that you check with your doctor.
But once your doctor has reassured you that the damage is only superficial, it's time for tender, loving home care. Here's what the experts recommend to help soothe the hurt.
Chill out first. ''Use cold compresses during the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury,'' says Alvina M. Janda, M.D., assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine in Minneapolis. She suggests using crushed ice in a plastic bag covered by a towel.
But when you use it, be sure it doesn't come directly in contact with the eye. ''The skin of the eyelid is the thinnest on the body and the most delicate, so you don't want to place ice right up against it,'' says Eugene Helveston, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.
Off and on. '' You should gently apply the cold intermittently to your child's eye--5 to 10 minutes on, 10 to 15 minutes off, and then on again, and so on,'' says Dr. Helveston. The cold shrinks blood vessels and decreases bleeding into the surrounding tissues, he says.
If you're at a ball game or picnic and don't have ice handy, a can of cold soda will do the job, says David Smith, M.D., attending physician at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, consulting ophthalmologist for the New Jersey State Athletic Commission and director of the Division of Ophthalmology at the Atlantic City Medical Center.
Switch to warm. Forty-eight hours after the injury, apply a warm compress--a towel or washcloth soaked in hot water and then wrung out. ''Apply these on an intermittent basis, too,'' says Dr. Smith. '' Warm compresses help the body reabsorb the leakage of blood that has occurred.'' This means the discoloration will vanish a bit more quickly, which can be a comfort to your child. | |
| When to See the Doctor Medical professionals recommend that every black eye be seen by a doctor because of the possibility of concussion or injury to the eye. ''This is one injury that should always be taken seriously,'' says Eugene Helveston, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. ''If your child is hit hard enough to cause a purple, swollen-shut eye, there's a real possibility of serious, even permanent damage.'' Only an ophthalmologist can determine if your child's eyesight is in jeopardy, he says, or if the injury is merely cosmetic. But even after an all-clear from your doctor, complications could occur. If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, say the experts, it's time to return to the doctor. * Increasing redness of the eye * Any drainage from the eye * Complaints of blurred or double vision * Irregularly shaped pupil * Hazy or clouded pupil |
Give acetaminophen. If your child is in pain, reach for the acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol). Check the package directions for the correct dosage for your child's age and weight. If your child is under age two, consult a physician. ''And don't substitute aspirin or ibuprofen, even though those are used for pain relief, too,'' says Dr. Smith. ''That's because both of those drugs have some anticlotting properties and can lead to increased bleeding.''
Sleep heads-up. When your child goes to bed the first night, prop up his head with a few pillows, suggests Dr. Janda. ''This could help keep the pressure and swelling to a minimum.''
Turn the other cheek. ''Encourage your child not to sleep on the injured side of his face. Pressure on the swollen area will not only hurt but could make the swelling worse,'' says Dr. Smith.
Help avoid future injury. If your child is active in a sport with a high possibility of getting a ball or elbow in the eye, invest in protective goggles, says Michael Easterbrook, M.D., associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Toronto and consultant to Canadian and American squash, badminton and racquetball clubs and associations. For high-risk activities such as racquetball or doubles tennis, protective goggles with unbreakable polycarbonate lenses are a must, he says. Or if your sports-loving child wears glasses, have them made with unbreakable polycarbonate lenses.
