Swelling and the accompanied darkness around the eye typically goes away within two weeks. The blackness is bruising or an accumulation of blood around the socket, which has little muscle and fatty tissue and is an easy place for blood to pool. Typical treatment for black eyes starts with ice or cold compresses, followed later by hot compresses, and medication that will stem pain and reduce swelling.īlack eyes are the result of blunt force or trauma around the eye socket, including to the nose.
