You can care for a bruised eye by applying ice to the area in the early stages. The main purpose of the ice is to help deal with any inflammation and pain, but it can also decrease swelling. After the first few days, the healing process can be accelerated by applying heat to the area, which can be done using a heating pad or something similar. Over time, a bruised eye will generally heal itself without any special treatment.

A bruised eye may be associated with significant pain, and while the ice can be soothing, you might choose to utilize pharmaceutical solutions as well. Many people choose to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to deal with the pain from a bruised eye, and this is generally considered an effective remedy. It's also possible to use acetaminophen to relieve this pain, and this might be the better option if you have some reason for avoiding NSAIDs. A doctor may choose to prescribe something more serious for an especially severe eye bruise, especially if it is associated with some kind of additional injury.

Usually a visit to the doctor won’t be required for an eye bruise, but in certain cases, it might be prudent. For example, it is possible for a facial injury to result in a concussion. If you experience headaches, drowsiness, or nausea, these things could be signs that a concussion has occurred, and a trip to the emergency room is probably the best choice. Any injury severe enough to cause a concussion might also damage the bones in the face, and this is another possible emergency that could be associated with a bruised eye.

It’s also possible for an injury to that part of your face to cause internal damage to your eye. This could cause retinal detachments and other serious problems that might result in permanent vision impairment. Any vision problem after an eye injury is usually a good reason to visit the emergency room. It’s also a cause for concern if the eye is excessively bloodshot, or if there is any actual bleeding around the area of the eye.

An eye bruise can happen in a lot of different ways, but the injury is especially associated with contact-oriented sports. It’s also very common for a bruised eye to happen as a result of a fist fight. The tissue in that area is soft, and the bones there are particularly sharp, which makes it a common place to get bruised from any kind of facial impact.