What causes swollen eyelids. How can you treat swollen eyelids at home. When should you see a doctor for swollen eyelids. What are the symptoms of serious eyelid conditions. How can you prevent eyelid swelling.

Understanding Swollen Eyelids: Causes and Symptoms

Swollen eyelids occur when fluid accumulates in the tissues surrounding the eyes or when inflammation affects the connective tissue. This condition can involve either the upper or lower eyelids, or both, and may or may not be accompanied by pain. The severity of eyelid swelling can vary from mild to severe, depending on the underlying cause.

Common causes of swollen eyelids include:

• Allergies
• Infections (bacterial or viral)
• Eye injuries
• Insect bites near the eye
• Contact dermatitis
• Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margins)
• Styes or chalazia (blocked oil glands)

Is eyelid swelling always a cause for concern? While most cases of swollen eyelids are benign and resolve on their own, persistent or severe swelling may indicate a more serious underlying condition that requires medical attention.

Effective Home Remedies for Swollen Eyelids

For mild cases of eyelid swelling, several home remedies can provide relief and promote healing:

1. Apply a Warm Compress

Using a warm compress can help alleviate swelling and discomfort. How do you make an effective warm compress? Soak a clean cloth in warm water, wring out excess moisture, and gently place it over your closed eyes for 10-15 minutes. Repeat this process 2-3 times daily.

2. Practice Good Eyelid Hygiene

Maintaining proper eyelid hygiene is crucial for preventing and treating swollen eyelids. How can you clean your eyelids effectively? Use a mild, tear-free baby shampoo diluted with warm water to gently cleanse your eyelids. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and pat dry with a soft towel.

3. Use Artificial Tears

Over-the-counter artificial tears can help lubricate the eyes and relieve irritation associated with swollen eyelids. How often should you use artificial tears? Follow the instructions on the package, but generally, you can use them as needed throughout the day.

4. Take Antihistamines

If allergies are causing your eyelid swelling, oral antihistamines may help reduce symptoms. Which antihistamines are most effective for eye allergies? Second-generation antihistamines like cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin) are often recommended for allergy-related eye symptoms.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Swollen Eyelids

While many cases of swollen eyelids can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention:

• Severe pain or redness in the eye
• Vision changes or loss of vision
• Fever accompanying eye symptoms
• Eyelid swelling that persists for more than 48 hours
• Difficulty opening or closing the eye
• Discharge from the eye
• Recent trauma to the eye area

How do doctors diagnose the cause of swollen eyelids? Your healthcare provider will perform a thorough eye examination and may order additional tests, such as blood work or imaging studies, to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Medical Treatments for Swollen Eyelids

Depending on the cause of your swollen eyelids, your doctor may recommend various treatment options:

1. Topical Medications

Antibiotic or antiviral eye drops or ointments may be prescribed for infections. How long does it typically take for topical medications to work? Most eye infections show improvement within a few days of starting treatment, but it’s important to complete the full course as prescribed.

2. Oral Medications

In some cases, oral antibiotics or antiviral medications may be necessary for more severe infections. When are oral medications preferred over topical treatments? Oral medications are often prescribed for deeper or more widespread infections that may not respond adequately to topical treatments alone.

3. Corticosteroids

For severe inflammation, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroid eye drops or oral steroids. What are the potential side effects of corticosteroid use for eye conditions? While effective, long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to side effects such as increased intraocular pressure or cataract formation, so they are typically used for short periods under close medical supervision.

Preventing Swollen Eyelids: Tips for Eye Health

Taking proactive steps to maintain eye health can help prevent swollen eyelids:

1. Practice good hand hygiene and avoid touching your eyes with unwashed hands.
2. Remove eye makeup thoroughly before going to bed.
3. Replace eye makeup regularly to prevent bacterial growth.
4. Use hypoallergenic cosmetics if you have sensitive skin or allergies.
5. Wear protective eyewear when engaging in activities that may expose your eyes to irritants or potential injury.
6. Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E to support eye health.

How often should you have your eyes examined by a professional? The American Optometric Association recommends comprehensive eye exams every 1-2 years for adults, or more frequently if you have existing eye conditions or risk factors.

Special Considerations for Children with Swollen Eyelids

Children are particularly prone to eye irritation and swelling due to their tendency to touch their eyes with unwashed hands. In addition to the common causes of swollen eyelids in adults, children may experience swelling due to:

• Rubbing their eyes excessively
• Insect bites near the eye area
• Contact with irritants like poison ivy or harsh detergents

How can you safely treat swollen eyelids in children? Here are some child-friendly remedies:

1. Cold Compress

Apply a cold pack wrapped in a clean, damp washcloth to the affected eye for 15-20 minutes at a time. This can help reduce swelling and alleviate discomfort.

2. Oral Antihistamines

For allergy-related swelling, you can give your child an age-appropriate dose of an oral antihistamine like Benadryl. How often can children take antihistamines for eye swelling? Follow the dosage instructions on the package, but generally, Benadryl can be given every 6 hours as needed.

3. Lubricating Eye Drops

Use preservative-free artificial tears to help soothe irritation and keep the eyes moist. How do you safely administer eye drops to children? Have your child lie down or tilt their head back, gently pull down the lower eyelid, and place a drop in the pocket formed by the lower lid.

When should you seek medical attention for a child’s swollen eyelid? Contact your pediatrician or seek emergency care if your child experiences:

• Severe pain or redness in the eye
• Changes in vision or complaints of blurry vision
• Fever accompanying eye symptoms
• Swelling that interferes with opening or closing the eye
• Any injury to the eye area

Rare but Serious Causes of Eyelid Swelling

While most cases of swollen eyelids are benign, some rare conditions can cause eyelid swelling and require prompt medical attention:

1. Orbital Cellulitis

This is a serious bacterial infection of the tissues surrounding the eye. What are the symptoms of orbital cellulitis? Look for severe eyelid swelling, pain, fever, and potential vision changes. This condition requires immediate medical treatment with intravenous antibiotics.

2. Graves’ Ophthalmopathy

Associated with thyroid disorders, particularly Graves’ disease, this condition can cause swelling of the eyelids and tissues around the eyes. How is Graves’ ophthalmopathy diagnosed? A combination of physical examination, blood tests, and imaging studies can help confirm this diagnosis.

3. Periorbital Edema

This condition involves swelling around the eyes and can be a symptom of various underlying health issues, including kidney or heart problems. When should you be concerned about periorbital edema? If the swelling is persistent, accompanied by other symptoms, or affects your vision, consult a healthcare provider for evaluation.

The Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Eyelid Health

Your daily habits and environment can significantly influence the health of your eyelids and overall eye condition. Consider the following factors:

1. Screen Time and Digital Eye Strain

Prolonged exposure to digital screens can lead to eye strain and contribute to eyelid irritation. How can you protect your eyes during screen use? Implement the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. This helps reduce eye strain and promotes blinking, which keeps your eyes lubricated.

2. Sleep Habits

Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality can contribute to eyelid swelling and puffiness. How much sleep is optimal for eye health? Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to allow your eyes and eyelids to rest and recover.

3. Dietary Choices

Your diet plays a crucial role in eye health. Which nutrients are particularly important for maintaining healthy eyelids? Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and flaxseeds, can help reduce inflammation. Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as zinc, contribute to overall eye health and function.

4. Hydration

Proper hydration is essential for eye health and can help prevent eyelid swelling. How much water should you drink daily for optimal eye health? While individual needs vary, aim for at least 8 glasses (64 ounces) of water per day, adjusting for activity level and climate.

By understanding the various causes of swollen eyelids and implementing appropriate preventive measures and treatments, you can maintain healthy eyes and eyelids. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional if you experience persistent or concerning symptoms related to your eyes or eyelids.

What to Do and When to See a Doctor

The eyelid is a complex, fully functioning skin tissue that consists of eyelashes, tear glands (lacrimal), sweat glands (glands of Zeis or Moll), and sebaceous (oil or meibomian) glands. These tissues can develop inflammatory reactions, leading to a swollen eyelid.

A swollen eyelid is usually a symptom, not a condition. It’s very common and is usually due to allergy, inflammation, infection, or injury. The skin of your eyelid is less than 1 millimeter thick. But, since the tissue is loose and stretchy, your eyelid is capable of swelling considerably. 

A swollen eyelid is sometimes a symptom of a medical condition, such as:

Depending on the cause, you may experience swelling in one or both eyelids. Most of these conditions are not serious, but you should make sure to clean and care for your eyes if your eyelid is swollen.

Remedies and Treatments for a Swollen Eyelid

The treatment for a swollen eyelid depends on the cause. If you have an eye infection, you may need to use antibiotic eye drops, ointment, or other topical medication — meaning a medication to be applied on the body — to help remove the infection and ease your symptoms. Your doctor may give you antibiotics or steroids to take orally if the topical treatment is ineffective. 

To relieve eyelid swelling and keep your eyes clear and healthy, try these home remedies for swollen eyelids:

Apply a Compress

Run a clean cloth under warm water and hold it gently on your eyes. Do this twice a day for 15 minutes at a time to help loosen crusty discharge and get rid of any oil that might be plugging your glands.

Gently Wash the Area

After using a compress, use a cotton swab or washcloth to gently clean your eyelids with diluted baby shampoo. Make sure to rinse your eye area well afterward. You can also use a saline solution to rinse the area if you have any discharge or crust around your eye or in your eyelashes.  

Leave Your Eyes Alone

While you have symptoms, don’t wear eye makeup or contact lenses. Get plenty of sleep and avoid direct sunlight so your eyes can rest.

Use Eye Drops

Use over-the-counter artificial tears to keep your eyes moist and comfortable. Antihistamine drops can help with allergies and may help if your eyelid is swollen due to allergens. 

When to See a Doctor

Eyelid swelling usually goes away on its own within a day or so. If it doesn’t get better in 24 to 48 hours, you should call your primary care physician or see your eye doctor. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine your eye and eyelid. Your doctor will ask questions about other symptoms or changes that may be causing your eyelid or eyelids to swell. These could include contact with allergens or irritants, infections, or other health conditions. 

Remedies for Children

Children frequently experience eye irritation, typically from touching their eyes with unwashed hands. But there are several possible causes for eyelid swelling in children in addition to the causes listed above. These include:

• Rubbing the eye: Children often rub their eyes for various reasons but especially after getting an irritant in their eye.
• Insect bite near the eye: The loose tissues around the eye swell easily, which can happen as a reaction to a mosquito or other insect bite. 
• Contact dermatitis near the eye: Contact with poison ivy, detergents, or other irritants may affect the eyelid.

To treat your child, try these home remedies:

Cold Pack

Apply ice or a cold pack wrapped in a clean, wet washcloth to the eye for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to decrease eyelid swelling and pain.

Allergy Medicine

You can safely give your child an allergy medicine or antihistamine by mouth. This will help to decrease eyelid swelling and itching. Benadryl every 6 hours or so is best. 

Eye Drops

For eyelid swelling that interferes with your child’s vision, use a long-lasting vasoconstrictor eye drop (such as a tetrahydrozoline, like Visine). No prescription is needed. The recommended dose is one drop every eight to 12 hours as needed for one to two days. 

Emergency Care

You should seek emergency medical care or call your doctor right away if you or your child experience:

• Drooping of the eyelid
• Fever that won’t break
• Light sensitivity, seeing flashing lights or wavy lines
• Loss of vision or double vision
• Severe redness, inflammation, and a hot feeling
• Severe swelling (the eye is shut or almost shut)

What is Causing My Swollen Eyelids?

What is a swollen eyelid?

A swollen eyelid develops due to fluid buildup or inflammation in the connective tissue around the eye. Swollen eyes may or may not be painful, and the condition can affect both the upper and lower eyelids. Swollen eyelids are treatable at home for the most common causes.

Swelling of the eyelids can range from minor to severe and can have many underlying causes. In some cases, swollen eyelids may be a sign of a more serious health problem that could cause vision loss.

A doctor or family physician can identify the cause of your swollen eyelid if home remedies do not work.

What causes a swollen eyelid?

Many conditions can cause a swollen eyelid, including:

Understand the cause of your swollen eyes to ensure you get the proper treatment.

A swollen eyelid may be a symptom of allergies or a sign of a serious eye infection.

READ MORE: Causes of a swollen eyelid

How do I treat a swollen eyelid?

Home remedies can treat minor bouts of swollen eyelids. Avoid rubbing your eyes, as this will only aggravate your condition.

Try these home treatments for mild cases of swollen eyelids.

SEE RELATED: How to treat a swollen eyelid & Home remedies for swollen eyelids

Symptoms of swollen eyes

Swelling of the eyelids is a symptom of an underlying cause, such as allergy or infection. You may have some of these other symptoms along with swollen eyelids:

Here is a closer look at some of the most common symptoms of swollen eyelids:

Itchy eyes

Your swollen eyelids may be the result of allergies. Most of the time, allergies cause itchy eyes.  Pollen, dust and animal dander cause the release of histamines in the tissues around the eyes. The histamine results in itching, redness and swelling around your eyes.

Light sensitivity

Your eyelids may swell as a reaction to photophobia, a sensitivity to light. Sunlight, fluorescent light and incandescent light can cause discomfort and a need to squint or close your eyes. Headaches may also occur with light sensitivity.

Watery eyes

Watery eyes can cause swollen eyes. Chronic irritation from dry eye syndrome can result in an overproduction of the watery component of tears. If the glands in the upper eyelid overproduce this liquid, it can cause swollen eyelids.

Red eyes

Your swollen eyelids may be a result of redness in your eyes. Red or bloodshot eyes are very common and have many causes. Red eyes are usually a symptom of other eye conditions that can range from benign to serious.

Eye discharge

Eye discharge, or “sleep” in your eyes, could be causing the swelling of your eyelids. Eye discharge is the mucus, oil, skin cells and other debris that collects in the corner of your eye in your sleep. It can be wet and sticky or dry and crusty, depending on how much of the liquid in the discharge has evaporated.

Dry eyes

Dry eye syndrome can cause a range of issues, including swollen eyelids. Chronic lack of lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye causes dry eye syndrome. Side effects of dry eyes range from subtle eye irritation to significant swelling of the eye.

Eye pain

Eye pain may be coupled with blurred vision, bloodshot eyes, sensitivity to light and swollen eyelids. Eye pain is a catch-all phrase to describe discomfort on, in, behind or around the eye.

When to see a doctor about a swollen eyelid

Be sure to visit your doctor for an eye exam if you experience any of the following issues along with your swollen eyelids:

• Symptoms persist for more than 48 hours.

• Eyelid swelling doesn’t go away with home remedies.

• Vision starts to change or get worse.

• Black dots, or “floaters,” appear in your vision.

• Discomfort intensifies or does not go away.

• Lump starts to appear within the swelling.

• Eye movement becomes difficult.

A physician or eye doctor will give you a medical diagnosis and the most effective treatment. A referral to an ophthalmologist may be needed if the cause of the swollen eyelid is severe enough. 

4 tips for preventing swollen eyes

1. Get tested for allergies. If swollen eyelids from allergies are a regular occurrence, knowing what you’re allergic to can help you avoid specific allergens or reduce your exposure to them.

2. Pick beauty products that are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free to help avoid allergy flare-ups. Do a patch test on the inside of your wrist before using the makeup on your face to prevent an allergic reaction near your eyes.

3. When using eye drops, look for preservative-free eye drops. Preservatives in regular eye drops slow down bacterial growth, but some people may be allergic to these preservatives.

4. If you wear contact lenses, you can curb your risk of eyelid swelling by practicing proper hygiene. Always wash your hands before inserting or taking out contacts. Frequent replacement of your contact lenses and contact lens case are also part of proper hygiene.

What is the difference between puffy and swollen eyes?

The term “puffy eyes” doesn’t mean the same thing as “swollen eyelids.” The two terms refer to different conditions.

Swollen eyelids, or swelling around the eyes, is an inflammatory response to allergies, infection or injury. Eyelid swelling can happen with just one eye or both eyes. 

Eye puffiness is usually related to lack of sleep, age-related sagging of tissue and general water retention. If you have puffy eyes, it will typically affect both eyes.

Page published in March 2019

Page updated in September 2021

Medically reviewed in July 2021

Swollen Eyelid Causes & Symptoms

Why is My Eyelid Swollen?

Swollen eyelids are a fairly common eye condition caused by inflammation or excess fluid in the connective tissues surrounding the eye. Depending on the cause, swollen eyelids can sometimes be somewhat painful, affecting the upper eyelid, lower eyelid, or both. Swollen eyes can also be caused by many other factors, including allergies, styes, a blocked gland, traumatic eye injury, and conjunctivitis (“pink eye”).

Other Swollen Eyelid Causes & Symptoms

In some cases, swollen eyelids may be symptomatic of a bigger health problem, such as orbital cellulitis (a sudden infection of the tissue surrounding the eye), Graves’ disease (an autoimmune eye disorder associated with abnormalities of the thyroid gland), and ocular herpes (a recurrent viral infection that can cause inflammation and scaring of the cornea). In general, swollen eyelids are accompanied by symptoms such as itching or scratching sensations, excessive tear production resulting in watery eyes, obstructed vision, redness of the eyelid, eye discharge, and eyelid dryness or flaking. Pain generally accompanies swollen eyelids that are caused by an infection.

Many people also use the term “puffy eyes” interchangeably with swollen eyelids. However, for medical professionals, swollen eyes are generally used to describe an immune system response to an allergy, infection, or injury. Puffy eyes typically refer to eyes that are swollen from external reasons, such as water retention, a lack of sleep, or even genetic traits like hereditary dark circles under the eyes.

Eye allergies are the most common cause for swollen eyes. In this case, the swollen eyes are symptomatic of the body’s overreaction to a foreign substance, known as an allergen. Common allergens that can trigger swollen eyes include pollen, dust and pet dander, and can sometimes be due to the changing of the seasons. Some types of contact solution and eye drops may also trigger an allergic reaction in certain individuals with sensitive eyes.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The treatment of swollen eyes depends on the cause. Generally, if eyes are swollen due to allergies, antihistamine drops or oral allergy medication will be an effective treatment. For severe allergic reactions, an eye care professional may also recommend mild steroid drops. Ocular herpes and conjunctivitis are treated with anti-viral medications or anti-inflammatory eye drops, ointments, or antibiotics.

For at home care, remove contact lenses (if you wear them) until the swelling stops. Applying a cool compress can relieve swelling and pain. Most importantly, do not rub the eyes as this will only aggravate the condition. Speak with an eye care professional should conditions worsen or pain intensify, in order to rule out the possibility of a more serious cause for this pain.

Our ophthalmologists at Carolina Vision Center proudly serve patients throughout Fayetteville, Clinton, Raeford, Hope Mills, and Ellizabethtown, NC. Please contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

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Eye Swelling

Is this your child’s symptom?

• Swelling of eyelids or area around the eye
• No redness of white part of the eye (sclera)
• No yellow or green discharge (pus)
• Swelling is not caused by an eye injury. If so, see that guide.

Eye Swelling Scale

• Mild: eyelid is puffy, but can open eyes like normal
• Moderate: more than puffy, but eyes still open some
• Severe: eyelids swollen shut or almost shut

Causes of Eye Swelling on One Side

• Rubbing the Eye. Rubbing from any cause will make the eyelids puffy. Often, it starts from getting an irritant in the eye. Young children often touch their eyes with dirty hands. They also may get food in the eye.
• Insect Bite near the eye. A reaction to the insect’s spit causes swelling. The loose eye tissues swell easily. The most common bite is from a mosquito.
• Contact Dermatitis near the eye. An example is poison ivy.
• Injury near the eye. Can cause a bruise and swelling.
• Sty. A minor infection of an eyelash.
• Dacryocystitis. An infection of the tear sac in the corner of the eye.
• Ethmoid Sinus Infection (serious). This causes swelling and redness of the eyelid. The ethmoid sinus is behind the eye.
• Periorbital Cellulitis (serious). A bacterial infection of the eyelid. Caused by spread from nearby infected wound or insect bite. The eyelid is very red and usually painful to touch.

Causes of Eye Swelling on Both Sides

• Allergic Conjunctivitis. Itchy pink eyes from pollen or pet dander.
• Viral Conjunctivitis. The main symptom is red eyes with a cold.
• Bacterial Conjunctivitis. The main symptom is yellow pus in the eye or eyes. Eyelids may be matted shut.
• Edema (serious). Edema is retained fluid within body tissues. Edema fluid first appears as swelling of the feet due to gravity. Edema fluid also occurs around both eyes after lying down. It’s caused by kidney, heart or liver failure.
• Anaphylaxis (very serious). A severe life-threatening allergic reaction. Triggered by foods, drugs and bee stings. Serious symptoms such as trouble breathing or swallowing occur. Hives are almost always present.

Swelling of Eye: Clues to the Cause

• Swelling of 1 eye is often due to an insect bite. Mosquito bites are a common cause. It can also be from an irritant (e.g. food) transferred to the eye by the hands.
• Suspect mosquito bites if there are bites on other parts of the body. Insect bites of the upper face can cause the eyelid to swell. This can last for a few days. With insect bites, the swelling can be pink as well as large. Large swelling is common for ages 1-5 years.
• Swelling of both eyes is usually due to pollen that’s airborne. This includes tree, grass or weed pollen. These pollens float in the air and can travel hundreds of miles. Itching also makes the swelling worse.
• Swelling of the face is usually due to allergic reactions to swallowed substances. Examples are foods or medicines. May be part of a severe allergic reaction.
• Allergic reactions to antibiotic eyedrops can cause severe swelling of both eyes.
• Swollen eyelids from insect bites, pollens or other allergies are itchy.
• Swollen eyelids from eyelid infections are painful and tender to the touch.

When to Call for Eye Swelling

Call 911 Now

• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Severe swelling (shut or almost) of both eyes
• Severe swelling (shut or almost) of one eye with fever
• Eyelid (outer) is very red and swollen with fever
• Loss of vision or double vision
• Your child looks or acts very sick
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Fever
• Severe swelling (shut or almost) of one eye without fever
• Eyelid (outer) is very red and swollen without fever
• Eyelid is painful or very tender
• Swollen ankles or feet
• Sinus pain or pressure (near cheekbone or eyes)
• Moderate swelling with the eye open some. Exception: due to a mosquito bite.
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Mild swelling (puffy eye or eyes) lasts more than 3 days
• Eyelid swelling is a chronic problem and not explained
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Eyelid swelling from suspected bug bite
• Eyelid swelling without a cause

Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Care Advice

Treatment for Eyelid Swelling from Suspected Bug Bite

1. What You Should Know About Eye Swelling from Bug Bites:
   • Mosquito bites are very common.
   • Bites to the face can cause severe swelling around the eye. Reason: The tissues around the eye are loose.
   • Size is larger in young children.
   • The swelling is harmless.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Cold Pack for Swelling:
   • Apply ice wrapped in a wet washcloth to the eye for 20 minutes.
3. Allergy Medicine for Swelling and Itching:
   • Give an allergy medicine by mouth. This will help to lessen the swelling and itching.
   • Benadryl every 6 hours is best. Teen dose is 50 mg.
   • Give it 2 or 3 times.
   • If you only have another allergy med at home (but not Benadryl), use that. Follow the package directions.
4. Eye Drops:
   • The eyelid swelling often will improve after a cold pack or Benadryl is given.
   • Age 6 years and older. For eyelid swelling that interferes with vision after cold pack, use some eye drops. Use a long-acting vasoconstrictor eye drop (such as Visine). No prescription is needed.
   • Dose: 1 drop every 8 to 12 hours as needed for 1 or 2 days.
   • Do not use for over 5 days. Reason: Will cause red eyes from rebound effect.
5. What to Expect:
   • Itching may last for 2 days.
   • Pinkness or redness lasts about 3 days.
   • The eye may be puffy for up to 7 days.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Swelling lasts over 7 days
   • Redness lasts over 3 days
   • Becomes painful to touch
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

Treatment for Eyelid Swelling Without a Cause

1. What You Should Know about Eyelid Swelling Without a Cause:
   • Most eye swelling without a cause is from rubbing the eyes.
   • The eye tissues are loose and easily swell.
   • The rubbing is often from getting an irritant in the eye. It’s often seen in young children who touch their eyes with dirty hands. While eating, some children even get food in their eyes.
   • This type of swelling to an irritant can be treated at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Cold Pack for Swelling:
   • Apply ice wrapped in a wet washcloth to the eye for 20 minutes.
3. Allergy Medicine for Swelling and Itching:
   • Give an allergy medicine by mouth. This will help to lessen the swelling and itching.
   • Benadryl every 6 hours is best. Teen dose is 50 mg.
   • Give it 2 or 3 times.
   • If you only have another allergy med at home (but not Benadryl), use that. Follow the package directions.
4. Eye Drops:
   • The eyelid swelling often will improve after a cold pack or Benadryl is given.
   • Age 6 years and older. For eyelid swelling that interferes with vision after cold pack, use some eye drops. Use a long-acting vasoconstrictor eye drop (such as Visine). No prescription is needed.
   • Dose: 1 drop every 8 to 12 hours as needed for 1 or 2 days.
   • Do not use for over 5 days. Reason: Will cause red eyes from rebound effect.
5. What to Expect:
   • The itching should stop after the irritant is washed out of the eye. This may take up to a few hours.
   • The swelling will clear 24 hours after the child stops rubbing the eye.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Swelling lasts over 3 days
   • Eyelid becomes red and painful to the touch
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Last Reviewed: 09/29/2021

Last Revised: 03/11/2021

Copyright 2000-2021. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

Swollen Eyelids? Causes & How to Fix Them (Fast)

At some point, nearly everyone experiences swollen eyelids from allergies, irritation, inflammation, or infections. It is important to know the symptoms so you know how to manage the problem, but treatment can begin at home for the first day or two.

Puffy eyes are often mistaken for swollen eyes, but puffiness can occur for several reasons. Common causes of swollen eyes, not puffy eyes, start with allergies, but include serious infections that need medical treatment. Less common causes of swollen or inflamed eyes are often chronic conditions that require medications and ongoing doctors’ appointments.

The health of your eyes is closely associated with the health of the rest of your body, so understanding swollen eyelids can help you get the treatment you need.

What Causes Swollen Eyelids?

Swelling on eyelids can have several potential causes, which may have other symptoms, depending on how serious the condition is. By themselves, swollen eyelids may be a temporary condition. They can feel uncomfortable or irritating, but they will go away on their own.

Your eyelids may swell when there is inflamed tissue or excessive fluid (edema) around the connective tissues of the eye near the eyeball. The experience may be painful, hot, itchy, or uncomfortable, or it may simply look odd.

Aside from enlarged tissues around your eyes and difficulty moving your eyelids, symptoms associated with swollen eyes include:

• Itching or scratchy sensations in or around your eyes.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Watery eyes.
• Redness in the whites of the eyes.
• Obstructed vision.
• Redness on the skin of the eyelid.
• Discharge from the eye.
• Dryness or flaking skin on or around the eyelid.
• Pain or feeling hot (symptoms of infection).

Common Causes of Swollen Eyelids

Nearly everyone experiences swollen eyelids at some point in their lives, typically from irritation, infection, or allergies. However, there are other common conditions that may be more serious, which require an eye exam for an appropriate diagnosis rather than home treatment.

• Contact allergy: Getting a particle of dust, pollen, or pet dander in your eye can cause a small amount of irritation, which may lead to swelling. If you do not have an overall allergic reaction, swelling and itching will go away on their own. You may benefit from taking an antihistamine to control the inflammation. If swelling does not go away on its own after one or two days, see a doctor. Some of the tissues in or around your eye may have an infection.
• Widespread allergy: If you struggle with allergies to plants, animals, or dust, you may frequently develop puffy, swollen, red, watery, itchy, or dry eyes. Antihistamines or anti-inflammatory medications can reduce some of these symptoms. If you have severe allergies, working with a doctor to manage prescription medications will reduce eye swelling since it is a symptom of your allergies.
• Eye irritation: Getting a particle of makeup or dirt in your eye can temporarily irritate your orbital socket and cause a small amount of puffiness or swelling. Remove contact lenses if you are wearing them, and gently wash your eye out with water or eye drops. Do not put contact lenses back in until swelling has gone away.
• Blepharitis: This may be an infection of the tissues around the eye, or it could be associated with the herpes simplex virus. Along with eyelid swelling, you may notice yellow crust along the eyelashes, itching or burning eyes, redness, and sores. This typically affects both eyes at the same time. A doctor’s examination can determine if blepharitis is causing your symptoms and begin your treatment.
• Chalazion: This is the enlargement of an oil gland inside your eyelid, and it typically affects only one eye at a time. You will develop an enlarged, red, sore area that will look like a small mound. Pain will go away first, followed by decreased swelling. A doctor’s examination is required for treatment because it will not go away on its own.
• Conjunctivitis: More commonly known as pink eye, this is an infection characterized by redness, discharge, and sometimes crust on the eyelashes. It can affect one or both eyes, and it may look like an allergic reaction at first. Symptoms will get worse, not better, so see a doctor for medicated eye drops and stop wearing your contact lenses immediately.
• Stye: The medical term for a stye is hordeolum, and this typically is a red, inflamed, painful area in one eyelid. Eventually, the swelling will even out, sometimes with small, raised, pus-filled bumps. Visit a doctor for treatment recommendations if it doesn’t clear in a couple days.
• Insect bite: Itching, redness, and a small bump suggest you may have been bitten by a bug or insect, but a doctor will be able to accurately distinguish between an insect bite and other potential causes of eyelid swelling.

Eye Swelling Scale

If you have swollen eyes, you can assess the overall severity using an eye swelling scale. This essentially rates the swelling as mild, moderate, or severe.

• Mild: Your eye functions like normal, opening and closing properly, but the eyelid is somewhat puffy.
• Moderate: Your eye is still able to open for the most part, but the swelling is more pronounced.
• Severe: You cannot open your eye properly. The eyelid is almost or fully swollen shut.

If your swelling is mild to moderate on the eye swelling scale, you can often treat the condition at home. If it’s moderate to severe, you should consult a doctor.

The Difference Between Puffy and Swollen Eyelids

Many people may develop “puffy” eyes and think, at first, that their eyelids are swollen. There are some differences between puffy and swollen that are important to keep in mind, however.

Puffy eyes may be inherited, caused by a lack of sleep, or due to crying. Stress, fatigue, and allergies may all contribute to puffy eyes, which can obstruct your vision and become uncomfortable. Puffy eyes typically do not have other symptoms associated with them, however, and they can be safely treated at home.

You may go for a “spa treatment” and place cucumber slices over your eyes; you may use a small amount of Preparation H to reduce swelling; or you could take an antihistamine, which will reduce inflammation all over your body. These at-home treatments for puffiness are safe and effective in the short term.

There are many common causes of puffy eyes.

• Eating too much salt, leading to fluid retention
• Allergies that lead to inflammation
• Irritation around the eyes from cosmetics
• Sinus problems or infection
• Dehydration
• Sleeplessness
• Stress
• Inherited factors
• Aging
• Crying

Puffiness typically goes away on its own and does not have other symptoms associated with it. Swelling in the eyelids, however, can indicate a different underlying condition or a more serious problem with your health.

Understanding the different potential causes of swollen eyes, and the symptoms associated with them, can help you determine when to see a doctor for medical treatment.

Less Common Medical Conditions Associated With Swollen Eyelids

There are several medical conditions that involve swollen eyelids as one symptom. Treatment specifically for this swelling may be home-based, but treating the underlying medical condition is crucial.

• Shingles: This is the same virus that causes chicken pox, which lies dormant after the initial infection but may become active again in adulthood. The most common symptoms are skin rash and pain, particularly along the sides or flanks of the body. In rare cases, you may develop a rash around the face, which can cause swelling in or around your eyelids.
• Orbital cellulitis: Tissue infection in or around the eye socket can present as eyelid swelling. This will be accompanied with redness, pain in the eyeball, and bulging eyes. It will start in one eye and spread to the other.
• Preseptal/periorbital cellulitis: Like orbital cellulitis, this is an infection of skin tissue, but it occurs around the outside of the eye rather than the interior tissues. This may be accompanied by pain and fever.
• Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland mostly causes fatigue and weight changes, but puffy or swollen eyes may be one of several symptoms that your body is not managing hormone production. This requires a doctor’s diagnosis to begin treatment.
• Graves’ disease: The opposite of hypothyroidism, this condition involves an overactive thyroid gland caused by an immune problem. Bulging eyes, double vision, anxiety, weight loss, and rapid heartbeat are all symptoms of Graves’ disease, which can only be diagnosed by a medical professional.
• Systemic disorders (preeclampsia, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and liver failure): Edema, or fluid retention, is a symptom of many diseases that affect the whole body. The eyes are one of several areas where you may notice unusual swelling.

How Can You Prevent Eyelid Swelling?

While you can’t fully prevent eyelid swelling, there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of it occurring. Here are some tips:

• Maintain good hygiene. Always wash your hands before and after touching your eyes. This makes it less likely that irritants, allergens, or bacteria get into your eye that could lead to swelling.
• Wash your face. Never go to sleep with makeup on your eyes, as this can lead to irritation and potential swelling.
• Stay away from irritants. If you have any known allergies, try to steer clear of them as much as possible. Choose products that are fragrance-free and gentle.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes. Regularly rubbing your eyes can lead to irritation and puffy eyes. Try to keep your hands away from your eyes as much as possible.

Treatment for Eye Swelling

The best way to treat eye swelling will depend on the cause. Your best bet is to consult a doctor to determine the cause and follow their prescribed treatment.

If you are experiencing mild swelling, you can try some of these home remedies:

• Apply a cool compress. The cold temperature can help to lessen puffiness and also bring relief from pain and discomfort.
• Try cold, caffeinated teabags. The caffeine in the tea bag will constrict blood vessels in the area, helping to reduce swelling. Make sure the teabags are fully cooled before applying them to your eye area.
• Elevate your head. When you lay down, blood can pool in your head, increasing inflammation. Sleep with your head propped up on pillows to reduce eye swelling.
• Gently cleanse. Keep the area around your eyes clean. Use gentle touch to ensure you don’t irritate your eyes further.
• Use saline solution. Flush your eyes with saline solution to cleanse the area.
• Try anti-inflammatory medications. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help to temporarily decrease inflammation, including swelling around the eyes.

Get Help From Medical Professionals for Serious Issues With Swollen Eyelids

The health of your eyes reflects your overall physical health. When a saline solution, cool compress, anti-inflammatory drugs, or any of the other suggestions above do not reduce puffy or swollen eyelids, or the condition is accompanied by a rash, fever, serious itching, redness, or discharge, you should see a doctor.

Infections and inflammation can lead to damage to your eyes and even cause blindness when untreated. Often, swelling that does not go away indicates an underlying medical condition that requires more intensive treatment.

Symptoms of Infection

In some cases, swollen eyelids can be a sign of infection. If you notice these symptoms in addition to swelling, it’s time to see a doctor:

• Redness
• Discharge from the eye, often whitish, yellowish, or greenish
• Discomfort or pain
• Issues with vision

When Will the Swelling Subside?

The duration of eyelid swelling depends on the underlying cause. Most often, it should begin to decrease within a day or two. If it persists longer than that, see a doctor.

References

Some Causes and Features of Eyelid Swelling. Merck Manual, Consumer Version.

Puffy Eyes: What Causes Them and What to Do About It. (April 2019). Cleveland Clinic.

8 Reasons Why Your Eyes Are So Puffy—And What To Do About It, According to A Dermatologist. (April 2020). Women’s Health.

Top Causes of Swollen Eyelids. (December 1, 2018). Verywell Health.

Here’s the Tea: Use Tea Bags on Your Eyes. Greatist.

The information provided on this page should not be used in place of information provided by a doctor or specialist. To learn more, read our Privacy Policy and Editorial Policy pages.

​What you need to know about swollen eyelids

Your eyes feel weird when you try to close them. You look in the mirror and realize your eyelids are swollen. While it may be a little unsettling at first, most causes of lid swelling fortunately aren’t serious and are easy to treat. Join us as we discuss the causes of and treatment for swollen eyelids.

What causes swollen eyelids?

Swollen eyelids, also known as eyelid edema, have a number of causes. Some of the more common include allergies, dermatitis, an infection like pink eye, or a stye or chalazion. Excessive crying, lack of sleep, sleeping on one side of the face, a reaction to makeup or skin cleansers, and eye injuries can also cause edema. Less commonly, however, a swollen eyelid can be the sign of a more serious condition like cellulitis, thyroid disease, herpes/shingles infections, tear gland abnormality, or even some forms of cancer.

How do I treat a swollen eyelid?

While eyelid swelling often goes away on its own over the course of a day, there are several things you can do to help reduce it. A cool compress or ice pack can help reduce the swelling in general. Avoid rubbing your eyes, and if you wear contacts, remove them immediately.

If allergies are the cause, oral and topical antihistamines can be helpful. Warm compresses help open any blocked pores and are the main first treatment for styes or chalazia. If you have pink eye or another eye infection, see your doctor and take the medicine your doctor prescribes.

If your makeup is the source of your swollen eyelids, switch to a hypoallergenic brand, or stop wearing it altogether.

When should I see a doctor about my swollen eyelid?

If your swollen eyelid is caused by a possible infection, or the stye isn’t improving after a few days of warm compresses, a doctor’s visit is warranted. Make an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the following symptoms: eye pain or pressure, the sensation of a foreign body in your eye, blurry or decreased vision, double vision, painful or restricted eye movement, or you are seeing floaters.

“Eyelid edema is quite common and can be caused by a multitude of conditions, ranging from nonthreatening to serious,” CEENTA Ophthalmologist Craig Self, MD, said. “If in doubt, never hesitate to seek medical attention.”

This blog is for
informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult
your physician. Dr. Self practices in our Statesville office. To make an appointment with him or any of CEENTA’s eye doctors, call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.

Reasons Behind Swollen Eyelids – Causes and Treatment

Swollen eye­lids are a painful give­away that some­thing is wrong. As eye care spe­cial­ists, we see and treat a lot of patients who come com­plain­ing of sud­den eye­lid swelling — none so far for a bro­ken heart.

The swollen eye­lids in our office have lit­tle to do with cheatin’ hearts and are more often caused by aller­gies, injuries, or virus­es. We can only sym­pa­thize with a bro­ken heart, but swollen eye­lid treat­ment is right up our alley!

4 Common Causes for Eyelid Swelling

We’ve noticed four major caus­es for a swollen eye­lid.

1. 1. Injury
      We’ve treat­ed our share of pro­fes­sion­al ath­letes and know that injuries can dam­age any part of the eye. Eye injury isn’t lim­it­ed to ath­letes, either: it’s a real haz­ard for con­struc­tion work­ers, mate­ri­als movers, welders, mechan­ics, jan­i­tors, plumbers, elec­tri­cians — any­one who works with mate­ri­als that can reach an eye.  

      Like any oth­er body part, the area around the eye, includ­ing the eye­lid, will swell if any part of the eye has been hit, poked, scratched, burned, or invad­ed by a for­eign object. These are, in fact, the five most com­mon caus­es of eye injury.

   2. Aller­gies
      Those of us of a cer­tain age remem­ber the Gil­da Rad­ner char­ac­ter Lisa Loop­n­er, the ulti­mate girl nerd famous for her aller­gies and snif­fles. A drip­py nose is bad enough but swollen eye­lids from aller­gies can actu­al­ly be pret­ty uncom­fort­able.

      When aller­gens reach the eyes, they dis­solve into reflex tears (one of three kinds of tears the eyes pro­duce), which trig­gers anti­bod­ies in the cells inside the eyes. The anti­bod­ies release his­t­a­mine, which trig­gers itch­ing tear­ing, sneez­ing, and watery nasal dis­charge.

   3. Stye
      These red bumps that appear on eye­lids, most often in chil­dren, come from bac­te­ria and inflam­ma­tion of one or more mei­bo­mi­an glands, which pro­duce oil. When they are blocked by bac­te­ria, the eye­lids react and swell, often painful­ly.
   4. Con­junc­tivi­tis
      Also called pink­eye, is what hap­pens when the con­junc­ti­va — the clear lin­ing over the eye­ball sur­face — becomes inflamed, usu­al­ly by a virus. It’s con­ta­gious and com­mon among chil­dren.

Swollen Eyelid Treatment Ranges From Home Remedies to Medication

Swollen eye­lids can eas­i­ly become painful, so don’t ignore them if they last more than a cou­ple of hours. If you wear con­tact lens­es, take them out.

Any injury to the eye should be assessed by med­ical per­son­nel for inte­ri­or dam­age.

• If the injury was caused by an impact (a base­ball, a punch or poke, or fly­ing debris), put ice on it imme­di­ate­ly.
• If there has been a chem­i­cal splash or an irri­tant entered the eye, flush it out with saline if avail­able. Vir­tu­al­ly all work­sites have eye flush­ing sta­tions.

There are plen­ty of home reme­dies for swollen eye­lids that aren’t the result of an injury. They include cold com­press­es and arti­fi­cial tears for con­junc­tivi­tis and aller­gies. Aller­gies can also be treat­ed with aller­gy eye drops and over the counter med­ica­tion that will stop the swelling and tear­ing.

Styes can be relieved with warm com­press­es. They can take a week or two to com­plete­ly clear up. Be sure to pre­vent spread­ing the infec­tion or rein­fec­tion while you’re treat­ing pink­eye or styes:

• Replace or com­plete­ly dis­in­fect con­tact lens­es.
• Throw out eye make­up.
• Fre­quent­ly wash and replace tow­els, face wash­cloths, and pil­low­cas­es.

If your aller­gies are caused by pollen, try to reduce your time out­doors until the pollen count drops.

Did you know that there are spe­cial tears for cry­ing? They’re called emo­tion­al tears. Home reme­dies for swollen eye­lids caused by cry­ing include cold com­press­es and chilled face cream, lay­ing spoons on the eye­lids, and eat­ing choco­late.

How to quickly remove puffiness under the eyes: means and reasons for the appearance

Someone takes with them all their lives, someone took a month to get rid of them forever. Puffy eyelids and puffiness under the eyes torment almost everyone. Do you want to remove the “heavy” look? First, establish the cause, and only then start treatment. We will tell you in detail what to do with puffiness and what causes it.

The content of the article

1. Swelling under the eyes after sleep: causes and solutions

1.1 You are addicted to salty foods

1.2 Drink a lot of alcohol

1.3 You have an allergic reaction

1.4 Minor eye injuries such as scratches

1.5 The area around the eyes lacks collagen

1.6 You are regularly stressed

2. Causes of edema under the eyes

2.1 Lack of sleep

2.2 Temperature changes

2.3 Sensitive skin

2.4 Aging

2.5 Heredity

2.6 Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

2.7 Poor contact lens care

2.8 Prolonged Crying

2.9 Love for sodium and salt

2.10 Periods

3. How to quickly remove puffiness under the eyes: express methods

3. 1 Apply an ice cube or cold spoon

3.2 Take a tea bag

3.3 Gentle massage

3.4 Roller for the eye area

3.5 Try an eye mask

3.6 Apply Aloe Vera

3.7 Moisturize the eye area

3.8 Use eye drops

4. The best remedies for puffiness under the eyes: masks, ointments and patches

4.1 Eye masks

4.2 Sunscreen

4.3 Patches for the area under the eyes

4.4 Ointment for puffiness under the eyes

5. Swelling under the eyes in the morning: video instructions on how to remove them in 5 minutes

Hide

90,000 Twelve causes of eyelid edema and how to treat them

A swollen eyelid is much worse than just a cosmetic defect. This condition can look intimidating, especially when the swelling of the eyelid is so severe that it prevents you from seeing normally.

Usually, the causes of swelling of the eyelids are harmless. However, seemingly insignificant problems can actually be quite serious. Therefore, if your eyelids are swollen, you should seek help from your doctor.

Allergy

If the eyes watery, itch, become red and this is accompanied by swelling of the eyelids, the cause may be an allergy. Pollen, animal allergens, and others can irritate the eyes, causing an allergic reaction.

Eye allergies are rarely dangerous but can cause irritation. Avoiding known allergens is the best form of treatment.

But in the event that the symptoms persist, you should consult a doctor . He will recommend allergy testing or treatment.

Cosmetics

When makeup and skin care products come in contact with the eyes, they can irritate the eyes and affect surrounding tissues. This forms eyelid edema, which turns red and sore.This condition can be a manifestation of contact dermatitis.

In addition, another allergic reaction to cosmetics can provoke edema.

In order to feel better, you need to wash off the makeup well from the eyelids.

If the burning sensation continues or intensifies, consult a doctor . To establish a diagnosis, he will conduct patch testing and prescribe remedies that will help relieve eyelid swelling.

Do not use eye whitening drops or any pain relief medication.Such drugs can enter into undesirable chemical reactions with decorative and care cosmetics.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is inflammation of the conjunctiva. It is a transparent thin tissue that covers the outside of the eye as well as the back of the eyelids.

People with conjunctivitis usually have pink or red eyeballs, pain, itching, and swollen eyelids.

Most often, conjunctivitis is caused by a viral infection, less often by a bacterial infection. Inflammation caused by viruses goes away on its own in 7-10 days.

Sometimes allergies or irritants such as perfume irritate the eyes, causing conjunctivitis.

To prevent the onset and development of conjunctivitis, it is important:

• keep eyes clean;
• Do not rub or touch your eyes;
• Wash hands frequently to prevent the spread of infection.

Stop applying makeup at the first manifestations of conjunctivitis in order not to worsen the condition of the eyes.

If symptoms worsen, pain gets worse, or conjunctivitis persists for a long time, antibiotics are likely to be needed. They must be prescribed by a doctor.

Barley (hordeolum)

Barley (hordeolum) is an infection of the gland on the eyelid. The most common type of barley infects the lacrimal glands located at the base of the eyelashes. In addition, barley sometimes forms inside the eyelid, in an infected sebaceous gland.

As a rule, barley begins with the development of red, itchy, painful swollen lumps. Subsequently, after a few hours or days, they begin to resemble acne. Some people may have an abscess.

Usually, the infection only affects one lacrimal or sebaceous gland and does not require treatment. In this case, warm compresses can relieve pain.

Patients should avoid eye care products, including cosmetics and creams, until the barley disappears. And never try to squeeze out the stye – it can spread the infection and damage the eye.

Antibiotics can help if:

• several barley spawns at once,
• barley very painful,
• symptoms worsen,
• develops a fever,
• vision is impaired.

If you experience any of these symptoms with barley, be sure to see your doctor.

Chaliazion

Chalazion is similar to barley, but this is not an infectious pathology. A similar disease occurs when the outlet channel is blocked. This leads to chronic proliferative inflammation of the eyelid cartilage gland.

Moreover, people who have had one case of such a disease may have relapses. The swelling can get quite large.

However, the chalazion rarely hurts. It usually goes away on its own after a few days, just like acne.

Warm compresses can help the chalazion cleanse faster.

When chalazion increases, it becomes painful and begins to interfere with vision.It is usually difficult to tell the difference between chalazion, barley, or an eye infection.

If the lump does not go away after a few days or there are other signs of infection, such as fever, the patient should see a doctor.

Depletion

Fatigue or exhaustion can make the eyelids look thick and puffy. As well as the retention of water in the body during the night. Especially if the person slept badly.

Applying a cold compress while lying on a pillow may help.Drinking a glass of water can help reduce fluid retention and eyelid swelling.

Crying

Crying can rupture tiny blood vessels in the eyes and eyelids, especially if severe or prolonged.

When eyelid edema occurs after crying, fluid retention caused by increased blood flow to the eye area may be the cause.

Relaxation, cool compresses, lifting your head and drinking water will help here.

Orbital cellulite

Orbital cellulitis is an infection deep in the tissues of the eyelid, behind the orbital septum. It can spread quickly and is often very painful. Even a small cut can create bacteria in numbers that can cause orbital cellulite.

If the eyelid is red, streaked, very painful, or swollen, seek emergency medical attention.

Cellulite is a severe infectious pathology that must be treated with antibiotics.When the infection is complicated, you may need to take these drugs intravenously.

Basedow’s disease (diffuse toxic goiter)

Basedow’s disease is an endocrine disease caused by an overactive thyroid gland. It can cause the thyroid gland to malfunction, mistakenly releasing antibodies to fight off a non-existent eye infection.

Antibodies secreted by the thyroid gland can cause swelling and inflammation of the eyes.

There are several treatments for Graves’ disease, including various medications and thyroid surgery.

Ophthalmic herpes

Ophthalmic herpes is a herpes infection in and around the eyes. Although anyone can develop ocular herpes, it is most common in children. In this case, the eye turns red.

To diagnose herpes, the doctor needs to take an eye culture to test for the virus.Although the virus remains in the body and cannot be cured, antiviral drugs prescribed by your doctor can help manage your symptoms.

Blepharitis

More bacteria accumulate on and around some people’s eyelids than others. These bacteria can cause a condition called blepharitis.

The eyelids of such people appear oily and scaly. It looks like dandruff around the eyelashes. In addition, some people develop painful inflammation of the eyelids.

Blepharitis is a chronic disease that does not respond to treatment. It tends to worsen from time to time, and a treatment strategy can only be determined with a doctor.

Sometimes blepharitis leads to a more serious infection. If an outbreak of blepharitis is stronger than previous ones or the pain is very intense, see your doctor immediately.

Blocked lacrimal canal

When the tear duct is blocked, the eye cannot drain the tears completely.As a result – pain and redness of the eyelids.

People with a blocked lacrimal canal may also feel the crunch of the eyelids, having difficulty opening their eyes upon waking.

Newborns and infants are particularly prone to clogged tear ducts. The condition of such children often improves until they turn 1 year old.

A blocked tear duct can sometimes become infected. If the eyelid is very sore or the patient has a fever, you should immediately seek medical help.Antibiotics may be needed if there is an infection.

When a blocked tear duct does not clear, your doctor may order a medical procedure to clear it.

We help relieve swelling of the nose and eyelids

When a person has swelling of the nose and eyelids, this indicates serious inflammatory processes. The face becomes puffy, noticeable swelling is visible around the nose, on the bridge of the nose and under the eyes. It is necessary to pay attention to this symptom before serious complications develop.

Symptoms and types of puffiness

Swelling of the eyelids and nose looks like a noticeable swelling and can be unilateral or bilateral.

One-sided

A noticeable asymmetry appears on the face: on the one hand, the eyelid becomes inflamed, reddened and swollen. There is also noticeable swelling in the area of ​​the nose, also one-sided. Concomitant symptoms may appear on the swollen side – tearing, nasal congestion.

Double-sided

A person has a symmetrical swelling of the nose, as well as swelling of the eyelids and bags under the eyes.At the same time, mucus often flows out of the nostrils, breathing is difficult, and there is a burning sensation and itching inside the nose. Eyes may also water. Usually this symptomatology is associated with inflammatory ENT diseases.

Causes of puffiness

When a person has swelling of the eyelids, the cause is most often inflammatory processes. It can also happen in a number of other cases.

Inflammatory processes

Basically, swelling of the nose and eyelids is caused by infectious diseases of the nose.The most common cause is sinusitis, an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. A pathological environment accumulates inside, the mucous membrane swells, causing noticeable swelling. Also, this symptom can appear with rhinitis.

Other reasons

When puffiness of the eyelids develops over the eyes, the reasons can be varied:

• Conjunctivitis – affects the mucous membrane of the eyes
• Mechanical injury is a common cause of swelling of the nose and eyelids
• Insect bite – in this case, there is swelling of the nose without a runny nose
• Allergic reaction – often leads to swelling and requires a quick response

What to do in case of puffiness on the face?

How to remove eyelid puffiness? Applying a cold compress, ideally tea-based, can help.There are also special drops for edema. How to relieve nasal puffiness? You can breathe over the vapor of eucalyptus oil or grated onions – this will reduce the swelling of the mucous membrane. But it is better not to get carried away with self-medication, but immediately consult a doctor. After all, edema can be associated with serious diseases that require treatment.

Swelling of the eyelids and nose in children

If you notice swelling of the nose in children, this is an alarming symptom. The edema should not be allowed to spread – it can lead to serious consequences, even death.If you see that the child is swelling rapidly, call an ambulance, it may be an allergy. If the swelling is caused by sinusitis and other inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, show the child to the ENT. The doctor will help relieve the swelling of the nose.

Swelling of the face: treatment

When a patient complains of nasal swelling, treatment begins with a diagnosis. as soon as the doctor makes a diagnosis, he selects measures of therapy to eliminate the cause of the edema. For example, for sinusitis, they are prescribed:

• Taking antibiotics – helps to effectively eliminate the pathogenic environment causing inflammation
• Topical agents – sprays and drops that help quickly remove swelling
• Procedures for flushing and transfusing liquid – allows you to clear the paranasal sinuses from mucus and pathogenic microflora
• Physiotherapy – accelerates the effect of treatment

To answer the question of how to remove eyelid puffiness, you need to understand its causes. If it is associated with sinusitis, the underlying condition is treated. Additionally, eye drops may be prescribed to relieve swelling and redness.

Features of edema treatment at Betterton

In our ENT center, swelling of the nasal mucosa associated with inflammatory ENT diseases is successfully treated. Our doctors examine patients by rhinoscopy. After examining the condition of the sinuses and passages, they select an individual treatment plan for each.

Possible complications

If you develop swelling on your face, it can be life-threatening.With severe swelling, the nasal passages may become blocked and there is a risk of suffocation. In addition, the diseases themselves that cause swelling of the eyelids are dangerous. Treatment, started on time, avoids serious complications: meningitis, abscess, phlegmon.

Prevention

In order not to face edema, you need:

• Regularly visit an ENT doctor for preventive examinations
• Give up alcohol and cigarettes
• If you are allergic, keep antihistamines in your medicine cabinet at all times
• Treat diseases of the nose, throat and ears in time
• During outbreaks of epidemics, protect the respiratory tract with a special mask

If your eyelids and nose are swollen, make an appointment with our otolaryngologist. The specialist will diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment in one go.

Make an appointment with a doctor:

Make an appointment with a doctor:

Treatment of dry eye syndrome, choosing the right drops

According to statistics, 15-17% of the adult population of developed countries faces this syndrome. This is 4.5 more than 30 years ago.Progression of the problem is quite natural. Wearing contact lenses for vision correction, the development of ophthalmic operations, the use of computers and various gadgets, air conditioning systems – these useful “gifts” of civilization provoke the development of the disease.

The role of the tear film in the comfort of the organs of vision

The tear film covers the anterior surface of the eyeball, its thickness is very insignificant – only 10 microns (one hundredth of a millimeter). Despite its small size, the role of this film is extremely important.It prevents excessive evaporation of moisture, washes away foreign bodies from the surface, does not allow aerosols to penetrate into the epithelium, performs antibacterial and antiviral functions, transports oxygen and nutrients, helps to remove toxins and dead cells, and provides regeneration and hydration of the epithelium. It is the tear film that provides the cornea with shine and mirror properties, smoothes the irregularities of the outer surface. It consists of several layers (watery, lipid and mucin), each of them has a different composition and performs a specific function.The cause of dry eye syndrome (CHS) is instability of the tear film, disorders can be quite diverse and affect different aspects of its formation and functioning. Both the production of tears itself and the production of individual components (mucins, lipids) can be reduced, the production of tears can decrease due to injuries and pathologies of the eyeball or eyelid. It should be understood that many causes of CHG (for example, computers) are not in themselves a provoking factor. Their detrimental effect is that, concentrating on the screen, a person blinks less often, and blinking is an important process in the formation of a tear film.

Stages of CHG, treatment and prevention

The mild form is characterized by the presence of mild specific signs of fatigue. Patients are worried about dryness, stinging, a slight burning sensation, a feeling of “sand”, redness. Lacrimation is often observed, usually it intensifies under the influence of external unfavorable factors – wind, smog, smoke, conditioned dry air. When working at a computer or reading, an exacerbation of symptoms is also noted, especially in the evening. In rare cases, specific secretions appear from the conjunctival cavity, which, when trying to eliminate them, are pulled out in the form of thin mucous threads.At this stage of the disease, instillation of artificial tears helps to cope with symptoms. The drops of HILO-CHEST with hyaluronic acid are well tolerated, their composition corresponds to the natural composition of tears as much as possible, do not contain preservatives and phosphates that are extremely harmful to vision. Moderate severity is mainly manifested by the same symptoms of dry eye, but much more pronounced, in addition, there is no lacrimation, which still protects the dry cornea to a certain extent from harmful external influences.There is even a lack of tear production, and the swollen conjunctiva can increase, “crawling” to the edge of the eyelid. With a moderately pronounced syndrome, the use of high-viscosity drops is recommended. The drug HILO-CHEST Forte, having all the advantages of HILO-CHEST, contains 2 times more hyaluronic acid, due to which its texture is much more viscous, almost gel-like. Severe dry eye syndrome manifests itself in one of three forms: filamentous keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis dry, recurrent corneal erosion.With filamentous keratitis, growths of the epithelium in the form of filaments are formed on the cornea, one end of them is attached to the epithelium, and the other is free. When a person blinks, the free end slides over the cornea, irritating it. Keratoconjunctivitis dry has signs of filamentous keratitis, but degenerative changes in the form of depressions and opacities are observed on the surface of the eyeball. The cornea becomes dull, rough, loses its characteristic shine. With recurrent erosion, due to a chronic deficiency of the tear film, the eyelid, moving along the cornea, as if sticks to it, tearing off part of its epithelial cells.As a result, small erosions are formed that take a long time to heal. For the treatment of severe forms, the use of high viscosity drops from fatigue is also recommended, but, given the degenerative changes, it is desirable that they contain a healing component. For example, the drug HILO-KEA, in addition to hyaluronic acid, contains dexpanthenol, which promotes the healing of mechanical damage to the mucous membrane.

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90,000 eye drops for edema – 25 recommendations on Babyblog. ru

I stumbled upon this article by accident while looking for something about abscesses or cysts on an outgoing explosion (unfortunately it happened, although the crisis is already over) and I have to say that we have 8 carnations in 4 weeks – 4 3 and 4, as well as about the symptoms, a 15-month-old boy woke up several times during the night and sucked immediately after sleep.
End of symptoms.
I have used a topical antibacterial gel that did not get inflamed.
Another case was when the top three had an abscess, and it was real pain that did not help ibuprom, the young did not sleep, scratched their ears, because the pain radiated, led to inflammation of the inner ear.
And it was also a terrible pain.
Also, using our example, I can say that it is not very painful to come off the teeth.
Eight are not dangerous as long as they grow on schedule and do not pose a threat to other teeth http://coffeemania.su/kak-varit-kofe-bez-turki.html.
When they are well positioned and not prone to tooth decay, they can successfully stay in place for their entire life, promoting optimal chewing.
However, the problem occurs when their growth stops or when the surrounding gums become inflamed.
This is followed by swelling of the gums, swelling and pain.
If the inflammation is mild, you do not need to remove your wisdom teeth and treat with antibiotics and rinsing.
If explicitly shown, deletion is the only way to prevent other problems.
Hyal-Drop ® Pro Moisturizing Eye Drops provide immediate relief from severe dry eye symptoms such as fatigue, irritation, redness and gritty under the eyelids.
Their composition is inspired by the structure of natural tear film.
They contain a natural moisturizer – 0.24% hyaluronic acid, as well as two additional moisturizing ingredients: glycerin and carbomer, and an additional lipid component, thanks to which they support all three layers of the tear film: lipid, water and mucin layer.
Hyal-Drop ® Pro drops provide intense hydration, which means that they quickly and permanently relieve severe symptoms of dry eyes.

90,000 Not just “dirt got in”. How to Treat Conjunctivitis | Healthy life | Health

But in fact, the cause of eye inflammation can be not only bacteria, but also viruses or allergies.And different types of conjunctivitis need to be treated in different ways.

Our expert – ophthalmologist Anastasia Loshkareva .

Swollen eyelids, red eyes, pain and itching are common in most inflammatory eye infections. But what kind of infection caused these symptoms is not always clear at first glance, even to a doctor. Therefore, first of all, take the child to an ophthalmologist. Indeed, if the inflammatory process spreads to the inner layers of the cornea, scars, decreased vision and even blindness may occur.

Dirty Hands

The simplest option is common bacterial conjunctivitis. That is, it is precisely the case when a child, without washing his hands in time, brought dirt into his eyes. The fact that the inflammation is bacterial is indicated by the appearance of pus. In this case, this thick yellowish-green liquid will stand out from the eye during the day, and the next morning the child will wake up with blocked eyes. Usually, one eye is affected first, and then the other.

It is possible to rinse sore eyes with yesterday’s tea or a solution of furacilin, but not always effectively.More advanced parents give their children sodium sulfacil or drops with chloramphenicol, the existence of which has been remembered since their own childhood. However, today ophthalmologists advise against using these outdated products. Firstly, they give a strong burning sensation in the eye, and secondly, over the long years of use, old antibiotics have lost their effectiveness, since whole strains of bacteria have developed resistance to them. Therefore, their usefulness is questionable, at best they will give temporary relief, but at the same time they will increase the dryness of the mucous membrane, which is not good for the eyes.Antiseptic eye drops like Vitabact are considered more modern drugs. If the doctor decides to use an antibiotic, it is better to choose from the latest generations of fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, moxifloxacin). If, after 3 days of using these drugs, the disease has not subsided, an urgent need to go to the doctor and change the treatment.

The itching is unbearable!

Allergic conjunctivitis ranks second in prevalence after bacterial conjunctivitis. Seasonality is an important feature here.However, the eyes can react not only to flowering plants, but, for example, to chlorinated water in the pool. They can also begin to swell and itch after the child plays with the animal or eats something wrong. Contact lenses and medications can give a similar reaction (especially often allergies occur when instilling antibacterial eye drops and anesthetics).

Allergic conjunctivitis is characterized by symptoms such as swelling of the eyelids, lacrimation, redness, pain, pain and itching in the eyes, photophobia.The itching can be so severe that children scratch their eyes hard, bringing in dirt and germs as a result.

This form of conjunctivitis is treated with antiallergic eye drops (Allergoferon beta, Visallergol, Opatanol, Sigida-Duo) and antihistamines for internal use.

It is impossible to use hormonal eye drops and ointments (dexamethasone, hydrocortisone ointment) on their own. Even doctors never prescribe them as the first stage of treatment, but only use them in the second stage.And then they try to use less harmful drugs that do not dry the mucous membrane so much (for example, betamethasone).

Ubiquitous viruses

The diagnosis of conjunctivitis is not so simple. And even if the eyes are covered with pus, it is not a fact that this is precisely a microbial lesion. After all, bacterial inflammation may not be the main cause of the disease, it may join later. The fact is that many conjunctivitis is not bacterial or allergic, but viral. For example, herpetic, chlamydial, enteroviral and other forms are known.

But most often this disease is provoked by adenoviruses. They are highly contagious, which is why people often get sick with whole families. Usually, at first, only one eye is affected, and after a few hours or days, redness and stinging appear on the other side. But, as a rule, the eye that started it all remains redder. The infection is easy to catch both by contact and by airborne droplets (bacterial conjunctivitis is not so easily transmitted). A person is especially contagious in the first 5-7 days of the disease.Therefore, if someone in the family is sick with ARVI, it is extremely important for the rest of adults and children to observe the rules of hygiene: use individual towels, wash their hands with soap more often, disinfect the surfaces that the patient touched (doorknobs, for example, or a kettle).

Adenoviral eye lesions are different. Some are more or less favorable, others are aggressive. So, for example, an extremely unpleasant filmy form of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis can give serious complications to the eyes, therefore, it is necessary to be treated correctly and as early as possible.

If the eyes are inflamed in a child who is currently sick or has just had an acute respiratory viral infection, or if someone is sick in the family, then in this case you need to start as soon as possible with the use of interferon drops, which has a wide spectrum of antiviral activity and raises local immunity (“Oftalmoferon”, “Okoferon”). There are also other antiviral eye drops – Aktipol, Oftan Idu. And then, of course, you have to go to the doctor.

In case of conjunctivitis of an unclear etiology, ophthalmologists prescribe a complex treatment, which includes a combination of three components at once: a modern antibiotic, an antiviral drug and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

How to apply eye drops

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Throw back your head.
3. Retract the lower eyelid and drop the drug closer to the outer corner of the eye (if you drip into the inner corner of the eye, the drops will quickly wash off and have no effect). Have the child look up or slightly to the side.
4. Squeeze the inner corner of the eye to prevent drops from flowing out and entering the sinuses.
5. The next drug should not be instilled immediately, but 15 minutes after the previous one.Eye ointment should be used after drops (after 5-10 minutes).

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90,000 tips and tricks after eye tattooing

Date of publication: 20.07.2017 3442

About 80% of an excellent result of eyelid tattooing is proper eye care after the procedure. Your appearance, the speed of healing and even the durability of the permanent depends on it.

Skin healing

This area of ​​the face is characterized by swelling. It occurs as a natural reaction to exposure to a needle and the injection of pigment under the skin.Edema normally lasts no more than 1 day, then gradually subsides.

Eye care after the procedure of applying permanent make-up to the eyelids

Immediately after the procedure, a protective ointment is applied. The skin rests for about two hours. Then you need to wash your skin with cool water and antibacterial soap. After drying – after 5 minutes – apply a thin layer of ointment “Depanthenol” or “Bepanten”.

The course of using the ointment is 7-10 days. For the first 3-4 days, it should be applied every 2-3 hours.To do this, the skin is wiped, treated with an antiseptic (“Chlorhexidine”), and after 10-15 minutes an ointment is applied.

Important! Do not use alcoholic compounds and hydrogen peroxide.

From the fifth day, the ointment is used 3-4 times a day. It is recommended to flush your eyes with cool water in the morning and evening. Antibacterial soap can be used.

To relieve swelling of the eyelids, use a dry, cold compress. Place the ice in a tight bag and wrap in a soft towel.Apply to swollen eyelids for 10 minutes.

For severe itching, take an allergy medication. If pain is present, pain reliever should be taken.

Basic rules

Permanent makeup of the eyelids can last for several years, it is not necessary to take care of it after healing, but there are measures that have a positive effect on the quality of tattooing.

• For the first 10 days, exclude baths, saunas, steaming procedures, bathing (lakes, rivers, pool), tanning in a solarium and in the sun.
• For 2 weeks, physical activity that causes severe sweating is prohibited. Make-up can be damaged by the sweat that gets on it.
• Avoid mechanical action on the skin during the recovery period – scratching, rubbing with a towel, etc.
• Washing – with cool water.
• The skin should not dry out or crack. If you notice dry skin in the morning, apply Vaseline for 30 minutes.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 40 during summer.
• Do not apply decorative cosmetics for 10-14 days.
• You cannot deviate from the recommendations of the wizard. Use only the ointments you have been prescribed. Any means that accelerate the healing process (based on antibiotics, hormones, corticosteroids) are contraindicated.

Contraindications

Do not carry out the procedure if you are taking drugs based on acetylsalicylic acid and other drugs that affect blood clotting. Tattooing is also not done during menstruation and five days before it.

Other contraindications:

• blood clotting disorder;
• diabetes mellitus;
• dermatological diseases;
• local inflammation;
• Oncology;
• pregnancy and lactation period;
• high blood pressure;
• HIV;
• Skin tendency to form keloids;
• multiple allergic reactions;
• age up to 18 years.

Care of the arrows or shading

Swelling often occurs in the area of ​​the arrows, but not for long.In addition to the cold compress, you can take a diuretic for 5-7 days. Optimally – “Veroshpiron” (1 capsule 50 mg in the morning), “Hypothiazide” (12.5-25 mg in the morning). Do not use Furosemide because it is too strong.

Important! Diuretic drugs disrupt the balance of potassium and magnesium. Together with them you need to take “Asparkam” (2 tablets 3 times a day) or “Panangin” (1-2 tablets 3 times a day).