What term describes bluish discoloration around the eyes?

The term that describes bluish discoloration around the eyes is known as "periorbital ecchymosis." Ecchymosis refers to a subcutaneous purpura that results from bleeding beneath the skin, leading to a bruise-like coloration. This phenomenon occurs when blood vessels break, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue, creating the characteristic dark purple or bluish appearance.

In the context of periorbital involvement, this discoloration often indicates trauma to the area, but it can also occur in certain medical conditions, such as orbital hemorrhage. While other terms provided in the question correlate with different medical observations, they do not specifically describe the bluish discoloration around the eyes. For instance, hyphema refers to the presence of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye; edema pertains to swelling due to fluid accumulation; and Battle's sign is specifically used to describe bruising behind the ears, indicating basal skull fractures. Each of these terms reflects distinct medical phenomena that are different from periorbital ecchymosis.