A well-aimed punch, a wayward softball, or a walk into a wall may all cause a "shiner" or "black eye". Any injury caused by a direct blow to the eye should be examined as soon as possible by a medical professional. There may be internal bleeding in the eye. Prompt medical attention is also called for if the injured party was wearing contact lenses at the time the blow to the eye was received.
These are the steps to take while you are waiting for medical help to arrive:
Have the injured person lie down on his or her back
Ask the injured person to keep both of his/her eyes shut. Keeping both eyes closed is important to reduce the movement of the injured eye because both eyes tend to move together.
Soak a washcloth or any other available piece of fabric in cold water to make a compress.
Apply the compress to the injured eye.
