black eye

My 11 year old son was punched in the eye about a month ago. Although the blood in his eye seems to be drying up he still has the shadow on the skin under his eye.  I'm concerned whether or not this will fade in time.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I recommend that he see an ophthalmologist for evaluation if he hasn't already seen one.  There may have actually been an injury to the eye itself, in addition to the eyelid bruising.  A bruise on the skin will usually not leave any permanant change in the pigmentation, so any bruising should fade with time.  Sometimes dark circles can be due to allergies or a family trait also.

MJK MD