Getting to Know Raccoon Eye, a Bruised Condition Around the Eyes

Getting to Know Raccoon Eye, a Bruised Condition Around the Eyes

  • Jan 20, 2023
  • Doni Suhendar Dev

Who is not upset when they wake up and starting the day, do the routines, then they see their eyes are bruised and black? If you don't know, this is commonly called the raccoon eye.

What exactly is a raccoon eye ? And why does this happen? Is there a specific cause that gives rise to this condition? Then how to get rid of it?

Get to know Raccoon eye

Raccoon eye is currently being talked about a lot by people. But what exactly is  a raccoon eye?   Raccoon eye is a  condition that is directly related to the eyes as a sense of sight. This term raccoon eye in medicine is referred to as periorbital ecimosis.

When the eyes are in this condition, there will be bruised on the area around the eyes and there are discolorations similar to raccoon eye dark circles.

Why does this happen? Some sources mention that one of the causes of these raccoon eye is because there is a blood clot in the soft tissue part of the eye. The color resulting from this condition is usually dark purple or red.

This condition is quite dangerous if not treated properly immediately. One thing to know, raccoon eye is not a disease, but rather a health symptom. And this is different from the condition of black eyes because of fatigue.

 Is Raccoon eye a Health Threat?

According to further research, it turns out that raccoon eye can be a health threat. This is a sign of a problem in a part of the brain or skull. To confirm further, it is imperative to make a follow-up diagnosis to the doctor to prevent the occurrence of complications.

The following are some of the key points related to the raccoon eye:

  • One of the causes of the onset of raccoon eye is due to injury to the head or face
  • Bruising occurs because small blood vessels leak into other tissues, this is the cause of the onset of bruises
  • The skin around the eyes tends to be thin, so if there is a slight discoloration, it will be very noticeable
  • Bruising can occur in one or both eyes at once. These bruises are called periorbital hematomas.
  • Some cases of bruised eyes can occur due to blows or impacts.
  • For cases due to impact, bruises will disappear in a matter of days
  • Some other cases of bruises require facial surgery or further examination due to concern of complications.

Causes of Raccoon eye

Here are some of the causes of raccoon eye:

  1. Basal Skull Fracture (BSF)

When you have a fracture in the basal skull, which located below the brain, it will cause the raccoon eye. BSF usually occurs due to experiencing head trauma such as exercising or having a car accident.

        2. Thin Bone Around Broken Eye

This is another cause of the occurrence of raccoon eye. Around the eyes there are thin bones that are very prone to break when exposed to just a slight impact.

        3. Broken nose or cheekbone

Not only impacts or injuries to the eyes, but even the area around the cheekbones or nose, if you experience an impact, it can also cause bruises on the eyes.

        4. Primary Amyloidosis

In addition to minor causes such as injuries or impacts, it turns out that the raccoon eye can also be caused by symptoms of a certain condition. Primary amyloidosis can make proteins build up and weaken blood vessels.

 

Symptoms of raccoon eye

What are some signs that you have raccoon eye? Actually, the symptoms can be different for each person because it depends on the cause. But there are common symptoms that appear to be as follows:

  • Muscle feels weak
  • Bruises that will appear after a few hours or a few days after the trauma
  • Swollen eyelids
  • Heart rate and blood pressure tend to increase
  • The infected part will feel softer than the other parts when touched
  • There are several patterns of bruises embossed on the back of the ears
  • In the subconjunctival part, a reddish color appears or bleeding occurs
  • Color changing around the eyes
  • Sensory changes occur including visual impairment to blurring, hearing loss, and problems with the sense of smell
  • There is blood on the back of the eardrum
  • Nosebleeds
  • Especially for neuroblastoma, there are several other symptoms, namely bone pain, red eyes, dilated pupils, and eyes that cannot move in the same direction.

Complications That Can Arise Due to Raccoon eye

Don't take this raccoon eye symptom for granted  . It could be a sign that something serious is happening to the body , especially in the head or brain.

Please note, there will be more severe complications if these symptoms are not treated properly immediately. For example, when a traumatic injury such as a fracture in the skull occurs, it will cause injury to the brain.

Patients who experience these symptoms should immediately undergo an examination procedure to find out more about the impact. The following are the complications that can arise:

  • Brain bleeds
  • Leakage of fluid in the cerebrospinal
  • Meningitis of the brain
  • An aneurysm occurs
  • Abnormalities in the facial bones or bones of the skull
  • The face is paralyzed and can’t control the facial muscles

Make Up Tips For Raccoon Eyes

When you want to go out but there is a problem with bruises on the eyes, you will definitely feel a little upset and lack confidence. Kaef's best friend has tried various ways to be able to cover the bruises with various eye makeups. But sometimes what we apply tend to fades in the end.

The following are makeup tips to overcome raccoon eye:

  1. Choose eye makeup products that have proven safety.
  2. For the first step, try using oil paper or blotting paper and use it on the eyes
  3. Try sticking it for approximately 5 minutes, remember not to press to the eye
  4. Within 5 minutes, let the oil paper absorb all the sweat or liquid around the eyes.
  5. Try applying translucent  powder  or baby powder in the eyelid area. This serves to lock makeup and also control oil production especially in the eye area
  6. Try applying makeup for the eyes such as eyeshadow, eyeliner, then mascara.

How to Cure Raccoon Eyes

  1. Consumption of painkillers
  2. Compressing eyes with warm or cold water
  3. Protect bruised eyes from getting worse
  4. Keep the bruised eye area clean
  5. The sleeping position should fit to the recommended position

Those were various explanations about raccoon eye, along with the causes and how to overcome it. If you feel that there is something wrong with the eyes and the symptoms are similar to those mentioned above, consult to the doctor immediately.

Source

https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/raccoon-eyes-overview#:~:text=Raccoon%20eyes%20are%20dark%20purple,is%20a%20change%20in%20color.

https://www.healthline.com/health/raccoon-eyes

https://headtopics.com/id/mengenal-raccoon-eye-kondisi-memar-di-sekitar-kedua-mata-25569561