Orbital hematoma (black eye) is best described as which finding?

• A. Redness of the eye
• B. Severe eyelid swelling
• C. Bleeding under the conjunctiva
• D. Black eye

Answer: (D)

Orbital hematoma shows up as bruising and discoloration around the eye after trauma, due to blood collecting in the soft tissues of the periorbital area. That visible bruise is what people commonly call a black eye, which is why this option best describes the finding. Redness of the eye would point to conjunctival injection rather than bruising. Severe eyelid swelling can occur but doesn’t specifically describe the presence of blood under the tissue. Bleeding under the conjunctiva is a subconjunctival hemorrhage, which appears as a bright red patch on the white of the eye, not a bruise around the eye. So the best description is a black eye.