Complications

It is rare that a bruise (bruise, hematoma) does not heal on its own. In this case, an inflammation or even encapsulation of the tissue bleeding occurs and usually occurs when the bruise is particularly large. These bruises can then be surgically drained under local anaesthetic.

A bruise is particularly dangerous if the bleeding is in the area of the brain (cerebral haemorrhage). In addition, an internal haematoma can also be dangerous. With blood-thinning medication or haemophilia, a haematoma can also be dangerous and can also occur particularly easily.

Normally such bruises (bruises, haematomas) can be treated very well today by dissolving them with medication or removing them surgically. A blow to the eyeball can result in an orbital floor fracture, i.e. a fracture of the floor of the orbit, also known as a blow-out fracture. Due to the blow-out fracture, there is a possibility that soft parts of the eye are trapped.

Symptoms of an orbital floor fracture can include an endophthalmos, i.e. an eyeball that has receded into the cranium, a restricted downward gaze, double images when looking up, sensory disturbances such as a tingling or numbness in the area under the eye, or injuries to the eye such as bleeding. An orbital floor fracture can often be diagnosed by inspection alone, i.e. by looking at the patient. In any case, however, an X-ray and usually also a CT or MRI is performed. The therapy always consists of surgical treatment.

Reasons for a black eye

Mosquitoes and their bites are annoying, but only in the rarest of cases are they a cause for concern. However, insect bites can be particularly unpleasant on the face, especially on the eyes. Since the skin here is very thin and padded by little subcutaneous fatty tissue, swellings caused by insect bites are particularly noticeable.

The saliva of the mosquitoes also contains proteins that prevent blood clotting, so that closure of the tiny bite site is slow. Despite the harmless cause, this can lead to extensive haematomas, which can be all the more worrying due to their localisation. Nevertheless, in almost all cases the haematoma looks much worse than the actual findings are.

As long as no infection occurs at the injection site in the following period, there is nothing to fear. This becomes apparent through the classic signs of infection, which include in particular an increase in swelling, including redness and warming, as well as pain. Blue eyes are a form of haematoma that forms around the eye.

They are therefore ultimately due to bleeding. It is unusual for them to form at night, but they can still happen. Oozing bleedings, which were caused by injuries the previous evening and only bleed very slowly into the subcutaneous fatty tissue, often play a role here.

Overnight this can result in a large, painful bruise. But even a light blow with the own hand, which does not even lead to awakening, can be sufficient to cause the tearing of the smallest vessels, as the skin around the eye is very thin and therefore sensitive. However, if you frequently have a black eye for no apparent reason, or if you have an overall strong tendency to bruising and slow wound healing, it is recommended that you consult a doctor.

A blood clotting disorder, which can be based on a variety of causes, could be the cause here. This can usually be clarified quickly and then treated adequately depending on the cause. Haematomas are a typical side effect of surgical removal of wisdom teeth, especially those of the upper jaw.

Only in a few patients neither swellings nor bruises in the area of the cheeks and eyes occur postoperatively. This is simply explained by the close proximity of the upper jaw bone and the floor of the orbit. A blue eye as a result of wisdom tooth surgery is therefore in principle no cause for concern.

Permanent damage or disturbances in wound healing do not occur and the bleeding will disappear within a few days. Nevertheless, the development of a haematoma can be prevented at least to a certain extent, or the worsening of a blue eye can be counteracted. The best possible treatment is to cool the wound.

Ideally, this is done within the first 24 hours after the operation in 20-minute intervals (the 20-minute cooling is followed by a 20-minute break). As with the cooling of other injuries, care should be taken not to cool the wound too much. Especially because of the local anesthesia during the operation, it can be difficult to assess the cooling effect.

In any case, a towel or similar should be placed between the cooling pack and the skin. Blue eyes and bruises in general can occur without external violence. Rarely are there exact reasons for the sudden tearing of a small blood vessel.

A suddenly appearing blue eye is therefore not a cause for concern. However, if you notice more frequent haematomas on your body for which you cannot think of a cause, this may be a reason for a visit to the doctor. This may be due to a blood clotting disorder.