Black Eyes: Causes, Symptoms, and What to Expect After an Eye Injury

Yes, a person can have a black eye that is not their pupils as a result of a punched in the eye. A black eye, also known as a periiorbital hematoma, occurs when blood vessels around the eye are damaged, causing blood to pool and darken the skin.

When someone receives a punch in the eye, the force of the punch can cause the small blood vessels in the area to break. This results in an internal bleeding under the skin that leads to discoloration around the eye, often appearing as a black or dark purple bruising.