HI, My 7 year old daughter came home from school yesterday with a red ring around her eye... her actuaul eye is slightly red but what is most worrisome is the ring and swelling, it literally looks like she has a black eye, but the color is red instead. She has a history with allergies, i.e. excema and has been on an antibotic for 10 days less than a week ago. We have had a family cold that has been passed around, hence the antibiotic, while she was feeling down, she had a few mornings with crusty eyes and some redness. I am just curious if I should take her to the ER to make sure there isn t anything in her eye... she has complained that light hurts to look at and I know at school she was given a tissue to wipe her eye because it was tearing up. My instinct tells me she must have irritated at school, making it more pronounced.... not sure what to do. Thanks, Meg
Hi, Round ring around eyes, associated with swelling most likely indicates a trauma/collision there. Although this is called black eye, color can vary depending on age and depth of blood collection. Superficial bleeds will initially appear red and later change to blue and the black. If there are no complaints of severe headache or vomiting, you need not worry-just apply ice pack and give paracetamol for minor pain. But if she also complains of photophobia (hurting by light) and watering of the same eye, there is chance that she got a corneal abrasion/ulcer during the hit-for this I would recommend seeing an ophthalmologist, as this may need antibiotic Chat Doctor. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. 