Swollen Eyelid: Causes, Treatment, and More

A cool compress or tea bag over your eye may help relieve swelling in your eyelid, while a saline rinse can help clear away crust and discharge. If the swelling doesn’t improve within a few days, a doctor can make a diagnosis and recommend treatment.

A swollen or puffy eyelid is common. In many cases, the swelling goes away within 1 day.

You can reduce the swelling with compresses, but how you treat a swollen eyelid also depends on its cause. Causes can range from fluid retention to a severe infection.

Several reasons your eyelid may be swollen include:

• allergies
• a bug bite
• fluid retention
• pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• a chalazion, which is a blocked oil gland that’s commonly referred to as a stye
• periorbital or orbital cellulitis, which is inflammation that spreads to the skin around your eyes
• trauma or injury, which is often accompanied by discoloration
• lack of sleep

Some medical conditions can also cause symptoms of a swollen eye or eyelid. They include Graves’ disease and — in rare cases — eye cancer.

To avoid complications, see an eye care professional if the swelling lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours.

You can treat swollen eyelids at home, especially if they’re a result of noninfectious causes such as fluid retention or allergies. If those are possible causes, then swelling will often occur in both eyes.

Tips for at-home relief

• Use a saline solution to rinse your eyes if there’s discharge.
• Use a cool compress over your eyes. This can simply be a cold washcloth.
• Remove contact lenses, if you have them.
• Place chilled black tea bags over your eyes. Caffeine helps reduce swelling.
• Elevate your head at night to decrease fluid retention.
• Try antihistamines if you have allergies.

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If your puffy eyes are due to allergies, you can use antihistamine eye drops. For severe allergic reactions, you may need prescription eye drops. Oral antihistamines can also help.

If your eyelids are painful or tender to the touch, the cause is likely an infection or chalazion (stye). It’s important to determine the cause of your swollen eyelid, as treatment options depend on what caused it.

Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

Pink eye is the result of a bacterial, viral, or allergic infection that causes inflammation on the surface of your eye. It can start from one eye and spread to both. Pus or a sticky coating will often appear visible on the eyelashes and in the corners of the eyes.

Treatment

You can clean the sticky and crusty eyelids with warm water and cotton. The eye may get better on its own without treatment, although it may take up to 2 to 3 weeks. During this time, avoid touching your eyes and keep your pillowcases clean.

You’ll also want to stop using eye cosmetics and contact lenses.

Chalazion (stye)

If your upper or lower eyelid is swollen, it could be from a chalazion (stye). A chalazion typically causes a tender bump in the eyelid with localized swelling around the blocked gland. It may become red or inflamed.

It can take a few weeks to clear, and some develop into a hard bump.

Treatment

You can use a warm compress to bring relief and promote healing. The warmth can help with oil secretion and blockage. You can do this three to five times a day.

On occasion, a doctor may recommend prescription eye drops or ointments. If the chalazion continues to linger, the doctor can perform an in-office procedure to drain it.

Avoid using makeup while you have a chalazion.

What to do if it’s an infection

An infection of the skin is called cellulitis. In periorbital or orbital cellulitis, the skin around your eye will become red and may hurt. You’ll need antibiotics to relieve this swelling.

Cellulitis symptoms that indicate the need for emergency treatment include:

• high temperature
• nausea
• dizziness
• shaking
• confusion
• vision changes or double vision
• inability to move your eye normally

Depending on the cause, swollen eyelids take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to clear up.

Be sure to stay indoors when you can if allergies are the cause. If your swollen eyelids are due to crying, try to wash your face before you go to bed.

Some people prefer to seek medical treatment immediately so they can get an accurate diagnosis and, if necessary, antibiotics. Always see a doctor if your bump or swelling does not start to improve after 1 week or if the swelling is worsening.

Emergency symptoms

See a doctor immediately if your swollen eyelids are accompanied by these symptoms:

• pain in your eye
• blurry or distorted vision
• vision that gets worse
• floaters in your vision
• feeling that something is stuck inside your eye
• inability to move your eye normally

Certain conditions that cause a swollen eyelid require medical attention. Cancers of the eye are rare, but they may cause the eye to push forward, making it seem like the eyelid is swollen when it‘s actually pressure from the cancer.

Other symptoms to watch out for

Only a doctor can diagnose what’s causing your eyelid to swell. However, it may help if you can note:

• any difference between the symptoms that came before and the symptoms that came after the swelling
• when pain is present and when pain is absent
• whether you have an identifiable lump versus general swelling
• vision changes, especially double vision

Blepharitis – NHS

Blepharitis causes swollen, itchy eyelids. It’s not usually serious and can often be treated by washing your eyelids every day.

Check if you have blepharitis

Blepharitis symptoms often come and go.

Symptoms of blepharitis include:

• sore eyelids
• itchy eyes
• a gritty feeling in the eyes
• flakes or crusts around the roots of the eyelashes
• eyelids sticking together in the morning when you wake up

Credit:

DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/256626/view

If you’re not sure it’s blepharitis

Read more about eyelid problems.

Things you can do to treat and prevent blepharitis

Don’t

• do not wear contact lenses while you have symptoms

• do not use eye makeup, especially eyeliner and mascara, while you have symptoms

How to clean your eyes

1. Soak a clean flannel or cotton wool in warm water and place it on your closed eyelid for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Gently massage your eyelids for around 30 seconds.
3. Clean your eyelids using cotton wool or a cotton bud. It might help to use a small amount of baby shampoo in water. Gently wipe along the edge of your eyelids to remove any flakes or crusts.

A pharmacist can help with blepharitis

A pharmacist might be able to suggest things to help keep your eyelids clean, including:

• eye pads and wipes
• eyedrops

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

• blepharitis symptoms do not improve after a few weeks of cleaning your eyelids

Treatment for blepharitis from a GP

A GP might suggest using an antibiotic cream or ointment that you rub on your eyelid if your blepharitis does not clear up after cleaning your eyelids regularly.

If blepharitis has caused other problems, such as a lump of fluid under the skin (cyst), antibiotic eyedrops or tablets may be recommended.

If your blepharitis is severe, or if you also have other eye symptoms, the GP may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist).

Causes of blepharitis

Blepharitis can be caused by:

• a type of bacteria that lives on the skin
• a skin condition, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis
• the glands inside the eyelids not producing enough oil

Blepharitis cannot be spread to other people.

Page last reviewed: 08 February 2022
Next review due: 08 February 2025

Eyelid edema – description, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Many of us have experienced eyelid edema at least once in our lives. This unpleasant symptom can occur against the background of sleep disturbance and malnutrition. Sometimes it indicates the development of diseases of the eyes or other organs and systems. How eyelid edema manifests itself, what are its causes, what disorders cause this symptom, how to cope with puffiness – we tell in this article.

Symptoms of swelling

Edema on the eyelids is the accumulation of fluid in loose connective tissue. Puffiness can be observed both in one eye and in both, both on the lower eyelids and on the upper ones. The main symptom is swelling. There may be no other manifestations, or there may be associated symptoms.

So, inflammatory edema, as a rule, is accompanied by reddening of the eyelids, a local increase in temperature, the eyelids may hurt, and discharge may appear on the reddened eyes and eyelids. For non-inflammatory edema, on the contrary, pallor of the skin is characteristic, swelling appears in the morning, they are often associated with kidney disease.

Allergic edema is accompanied by redness of the eyelids, sometimes with rashes, as well as itching, profuse lacrimation, and discharge from the eyes. With life-threatening Quincke’s edema, severe swelling is observed not only on the eyelids, but also on the entire face and neck. If you notice these symptoms in yourself or in loved ones, immediately consult a doctor – Quincke’s edema can provoke respiratory arrest and coma.

Puffiness on the eyelids can be combined with other general symptoms, such as fever, tachycardia, swollen lymph nodes, coughing, sneezing, rashes on the face, scalp, swelling of other parts of the body.

Only a specialist can determine the cause of eyelid edema. Let’s take a look at some of the options below.

Non-pathological causes of edema

Edema can be caused by the wrong lifestyle. For example, they arise due to excessive visual stress, including from many hours of continuous work at the computer.

Sleep disruption can also lead to eyelid puffiness. In this case, swelling appears in the morning. In addition, the symptom leads to malnutrition – the abuse of salty, smoked, fatty foods, especially before bedtime. Salt retains fluid in the body, as a result, the eyelids swell in the morning. Non-compliance with the drinking regimen and excessive alcohol intake also lead to swelling. Even the wrong posture during sleep (when the head is lower than the body or much higher) can cause swelling of the eyelids and the entire face.

Other non-pathological causes of swelling can be:

• prolonged crying;

• weather conditions: extreme heat can cause improper distribution of fluid in the body;

• insect bites – in this case, swelling is accompanied by itching and redness;

• poor-quality make-up removal;

• tattoo on the eyelids or other injuries;

• hereditary features of the structure of the eyelids.

Diseases causing swelling of the eyelid

Sometimes swelling on the eyelids appears due to diseases – eye or general. So, this symptom occurs with the following ophthalmic ailments:

• Blepharitis. This is inflammation on the eyelids, namely on their edges. Blepharitis, depending on the causes, is simple, infectious, allergic, demodectic, meibomian, seborrheic, and due to rosacea. Each type of disease manifests itself in its own way, but swelling and redness are a common symptom for all. Also, on the ciliary edge, as a rule, discharge accumulates and dries up. Blepharitis usually appears on the eyelids of both eyes.

• Conjunctivitis. Inflammation of the conjunctiva – the mucous membrane that covers the eye and eyelid from the inside – can also be of different types: allergic, bacterial, viral. Usually, with this disease, the mucous membrane turns red and swells, the patient is worried about lacrimation, discharge, sensation of a foreign body and burning in the eye area.

• Barley. Acute inflammation of the sebaceous glands or ciliary follicles is manifested first by a small red swelling on the lower or upper eyelid, and then by a dense ball formed with a yellowish purulent head. Associated symptoms – itching, tingling sensation, pain, profuse lacrimation. As a rule, after a few days, the abscess opens on its own, and the disease recedes.

• Halazion. This disease at an early stage resembles barley, with the difference that the rounded swelling with chalazion does not hurt. Inflammation of the meibomian gland duct most often covers one, usually the lower eyelid. The disease does not go away on its own and requires medical and sometimes surgical treatment.

• Local allergic reaction. Eye allergies can arise from the use of poor-quality or expired cosmetics, under the influence of pollen or animal saliva. Puffiness appears more often on both eyelids, sometimes rashes join it, the eyes turn red, watery, itchy, there may be sneezing and a runny nose.

• Preseptal (periorbital) phlegmon. This infectious disease usually affects one eyelid and nearby tissues. Phlegmon occurs against the background of infection of wounds, or the spread of infection from the nose or mouth. The eyelid darkens, swells, hurts, the palpebral fissure narrows.

• Thrombosis of the cavernous sinus. This rare condition is caused by bacterial sinusitis or boils in the vestibule of the nose. The disease is first unilateral, then bilateral. Its symptoms are: severe headache or pain in the face, fever, paralysis of the eye muscles, bulging eyes and swelling of the eyelids.

When general diseases become the cause of swelling, the patient complains of symptoms affecting not only the eye and head area, but also other organs. These diseases include:

• SARS. Respiratory infections can cause swelling. During illness, the work of the lacrimal glands increases, respectively, the flow of fluid increases, which causes swelling. Other symptoms of SARS are probably familiar to everyone: runny nose, sneezing and coughing, watery eyes, fever, sore throat, muscle pain, weakness.

• Seborrheic dermatitis. Inflammatory disease of the scalp, face, chest is manifested by red itchy and flaky spots. Seborrheic dermatitis in a mild form causes dandruff, in severe form – profuse rashes on all parts of the body rich in subcutaneous fat. Eruptions on the face can lead to seborrheic blepharitis, which we mentioned above.

• Kidney diseases. Many disorders (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis) in the work of these organs lead to swelling – first on the eyelids, on the face, then on the legs and ankles, hands and even the stomach can also swell. The symptom occurs in the morning, the skin in swollen areas does not change color, it can only be slightly paler. Kidney disease is often accompanied by a decrease in the amount of urine, back pain, sometimes headaches and weakness.

• Diseases of the cardiovascular system. Heart failure leads to swelling of the face and blanching of the skin, but these symptoms first affect the legs, then the abdomen, and only lastly the face and hands. With pathologies of the cardiovascular system, puffiness occurs not in the morning, but in the evening.

• Diseases of the thyroid gland. The cause of puffiness of the eyes and the entire face may be hypothyroidism (lack of thyroid hormones). Other symptoms of this condition are weakness, drowsiness, weight gain, loose skin, loss of appetite, constipation, menstrual irregularities in women, and decreased sex drive in men.

Pregnancy can also cause swelling – both hormonal changes and fetal pressure on the kidneys in the third trimester.

Here are just some of the conditions that provoke swelling of the eyes. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a specialist after a comprehensive diagnosis.

What to do if swelling appears

If swelling in the eyes appears in the morning and disappears on its own during the day, and other symptoms from the organs of vision and other systems do not bother you, take a closer look at your lifestyle. You may need to adjust your diet, work or sleep patterns. Cool compresses and facial massage will help reduce puffiness and look fresher in the morning.

If you find other manifestations of eye diseases in addition to puffiness, contact an ophthalmologist! The doctor will take an anamnesis, conduct an examination, a hardware examination. If an allergy is suspected, tests to identify the allergen may be needed. If a specialist suspects demodectic blepharitis, a scraping from the eyelid will be done.

Based on the results of the examination, the ophthalmologist voices the causes of swelling, makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment. Most often, conservative methods are sufficient – local or oral administration of drugs. During the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, it is important to observe eye hygiene – remove the discharge in time with cotton swabs or discs dipped in saline.

If you have found symptoms of common diseases that provoke swelling, seek the advice of a therapist. He will collect an anamnesis, prescribe urine and blood tests and, based on their results, will send you to a narrow specialist – a nephrologist, cardiologist or endocrinologist. After the diagnosis is made, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Remember that in no case should you engage in self-diagnosis and self-treatment. Folk remedies and uncontrolled intake of pharmaceutical preparations can aggravate the situation. In addition, by postponing a visit to the doctor, you may miss the most favorable moment to start therapy. Timely competent treatment increases the chances of a full recovery.

To prevent the development of ophthalmic and general diseases, strengthen the immune system and do not forget to undergo preventive examinations with doctors.

And last time we wrote about how to replace the lens solution.

Inflammation of the eyelids (Blepharitis) – Biota

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids. It is recorded most often in dogs, but can occur in cats, horses, rabbits.
In most cases, inflammation affects the outer two layers of the eyelids; in some cases, this may extend to the conjunctiva. The outer layer of the eyelid is made up of skin and hair follicles; The middle layer is made up of connective tissue, muscle, and glands such as the Meibomian glands.
They are modified sebaceous glands and open at the edges of the eyelids. Each of the glands consists of many alveoli that secrete a secret into the common excretory duct. The secret is fatty in nature and lubricates the eyelids, protecting them from wetting.

What are the symptoms of blepharitis?

Blepharitis may affect one or both eyes. The affected eyelid will be reddened, swollen and itchy. The animal will squint or blink convulsively (blepharospasm). Often, when this discomfort occurs, the dog may scratch or injure the eyelids. This can lead to secondary injury to surrounding tissues. With blepharitis, there may be discharge from the eyes of a different nature: watery, mucous or purulent (containing pus). If inflammation has been present for some time, there may be loss of pigment around the affected area or hair.

The skin covering the eyelids may develop dry crusts or flakes or small papules or pustules (“pimples”). Papules, pustules and crusts may be single. The meibomian glands at the edge of the eyelid may become swollen. In more severe cases, the inflammation may spread to the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis) or to the cornea (keratitis).

What causes blepharitis?

Any condition that can cause eyelid irritation can lead to blepharitis. Common causes of blepharitis include congenital anomalies, allergies, infections, tumors, and sometimes other inflammatory conditions.

Congenital malformations of the eyelids, which include volvulus, a condition in which the edge of the eyelid rolls inwards, and development of abnormal eyelashes, in which one or more eyelashes grow inward towards the eyeball.
Any condition that can cause irritation of the eyelids can lead to blepharitis. Common causes of blepharitis include congenital anomalies, allergies, infections, tumors, and sometimes other inflammatory conditions.

The shape of the dog’s muzzle and face may predispose the dog to developing blepharitis. Dogs with wrinkled faces, short flat muzzles, and bulging eyes are prone to developing this problem.

Allergies to insect stings, inhalant allergens, or foods can lead to blepharitis. Bacterial infections can cause localized gland abscesses on the eyelids or eyelid infections. In some cases, staphylococcus aureus can lead to an allergic reaction, the so-called “Staphylococcal hypersensitivity”. Sometimes a fungal infection can be the cause of blepharitis.
Localized blepharitis may be caused by chalazion, an inflammatory enlargement of the meibomian glands associated with a reaction to secretions from the gland.

The most common tumors that cause blepharitis in dogs are in the meibomian glands. These tumors can be benign “sebaceous adenomas” or malignant “sebaceous adenocarcinomas”. Another type of tumor, called “mast cell tumors”, can also cause blepharitis.

Other causes of blepharitis include external trauma to the eyelids, dermatitis (caused by either demodectic or sarcoptic mites), eating disorders such as zinc dependent dermatosis or fatty acid deficiency, endocrine problems such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, diabetes mellitus, and allergens. environment, such as tobacco smoke.

In some cases, no underlying cause can be found – this is called “idiopathic blepharitis”.

Are there dog breeds predisposed to blepharitis?

Dogs with any of the congenital anomalies and brachiocephalic breeds are more likely to develop blepharitis. These breeds include Shih Tzu, Pekingese, English Bulldog, Pug, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Poodle, Shar Pei, Chow Chow, Rottweiler and Collie.

How to make a diagnosis?

The veterinarian will perform an eye examination. An ophthalmic examination often includes a Schirmer test, which measures the level of tear production in the eye to keep it moist. Samples can be sent to the laboratory for cultural bacteriological examination (sowing on a nutrient medium, bakposev). Having singled out the culture, it can firstly be accurately identified (determine the type of microbe), and secondly, determine its sensitivity, which makes it possible to obtain a direct culture of the microorganism – the pathogen to drugs – antibiotics (antibacterial drugs) and bacteriophages.

To exclude mites of the genus Demodex, Sarcoptes, appropriate scrapings and a trichogram are taken. If an allergy is suspected by a veterinarian, then further testing may be necessary to determine the specific allergic cause. For suspicious tumors, a biopsy will be needed to determine the nature of the tumor, appropriate treatment, and prognosis. If there is no obvious cause for blepharitis, your veterinarian will recommend blood tests to look for evidence of systemic disease.

What is the treatment for blepharitis?

Your veterinarian may recommend symptomatic treatment of the inflammation, warm compresses for 5-15 minutes several times a day, eye drops or eye lotions.

“However, any therapy for blepharitis will depend on the underlying cause.”

The method of choice for correcting blepharitis may be lesion surgery. Bacterial infections would be treated with antibacterial ointments or drops, mites would be treated with antiparasitic medications, and allergic diseases could be controlled with broad-spectrum oral antibiotics and corticosteroids, along with allergen exclusion. Blepharitis that accompanies endocrine changes will be treated symptomatically until the endocrine disorders are brought under control. Dietary supplements will be needed for nutritional deficiencies.

If blepharitis is idiopathic, symptoms can be controlled with topical medications. In some cases, it may be necessary to use oral immunosuppressants.

Forecast for recovery?

The prognosis depends entirely on the cause of blepharitis. If congenital pathologies are responsible for the problem, and this is solved surgically, then the prognosis is excellent.