Swollen Eyelid, Blood In The Corner Of Eyes. Is This Something Serious?

Posted on Sat, 13 Apr 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 Answered on

Fri, 3 May 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I woke up with slightly swollen eyelid that bled into the corner of my eye (looks like a black eye). No pain. Who should I see, and is this an emergency?

Answered by Dr. Naseem (-2 hours later)

Hi there. Thanks for posting your query here.

The symptom you describe sounds like a haematoma of the eyelid. If there is some redness in the eye as well that would be a subconjunctival bleed. These are typically less serious than they look.

If this is, the first time this happened and there is no problem with your vision, there is no cause to worry.

Try ice packs on the area with the eye closed and start a course of vitamin C to help resorption that typically takes 4 to 7 days to go away based on how severe it is.

These conditions develop when there is some mild injury to the area, common during sleep and a subconjunctival bleed is often seen during an episode of violent coughing, constipation and lifting heavy weights.
All you need to do is wait and it will subside.

Do revert with anything more I can help you with.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E