Do you wonder why your eyes or eyelids look puffy or swollen? When fluid builds up in the thin layers of tissue surrounding your eyes, your eyes or eyelids can swell. But when is it cause for concern?
Typically, any eye swelling — especially in your upper or lower eyelid — is just an uncomfortable annoyance that goes away on its own within 24 hours. However, if the swelling remains longer, it’s important to treat it because some problems can quickly damage your eyes.
“Any swelling that lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours should send you to an eye care professional because there are times it can be something severe that can blind you,” says ophthalmologist Annapurna Singh, MD.
What can cause a swollen eye or eyelid?
There are several reasons why you might see swelling in your eyes or eyelids. They include:
- Allergies – This is a common problem that is also the simplest to treat.
- Conjunctivitis – Also known as pink eye, this infection is common during cold and flu season. It’s often caused by a virus, bacteria, allergens or other irritants.
- Stye – An infection in an eyelash follicle or tear gland, styes appears as tender, red bumps at the edge of your eyelids.
- Chalazion – Similar to a stye, a chalazion is a harmless, small bump that appears on your eyelid. Blocked oil glands cause chalazia.
- Orbital cellulitis – This inflammation, which spreads from your sinuses, occurs more often in children than in adults. It causes redness and painful swelling of your eyelid and the skin surrounding your eyes.
- Trauma-related injuries – When blunt force strikes, your eye compresses and retracts, causing blood to gather underneath the damaged area. This often causes swelling and discoloration.
- Graves disease – Also known as thyroid eye disease, Graves disease is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of your eye. It relates to a thyroid problem.
- Eye cancer – This is rarely the reason for swelling in or around your eyes. However, it is a symptom. Eye cancer, or an eye lymphoma, is also accompanied by blurred vision or loss of vision. You may also see floaters — spots or squiggles — slowly moving in your field of vision.
What should you do if you notice swelling?
Most swelling around the eyes goes away within a few days. Here are a few tips to help reduce swelling in the meantime:
- Wash or rinse.Try rinsing your eyes with water if swelling is associated with a discharge. Cool water is more soothing for allergies.
- Try a cool compress.Lie down and place a water-soaked washcloth across your eyes.
- Antihistamine eye drops for allergies. Use antihistamine eye drops — but only if you have allergies. When it comes to steroid drops, Dr. Singh warns not to use them inadvertently and only as prescribed. “Steroid eye drops can work very well when you have allergies; however, if it’s used for another condition, it could actually harm and blind you,” she says. “Always, check with your physician first.”
- Remove contacts.If you wear contact lenses, remove them immediately if your eyes or eyelids are swollen.
What are the signs of a more serious problem?
Call your eye doctor right away if swelling lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours and you notice any of the following:
- Pain in your eye(s)
- Blurry vision
- Decreased vision
- Seeing floaters
- Sensation that something’s stuck inside your eye
How to take care of your eyes long-term
To ensure that your eyes remain healthy, an eye exam is a good idea — whether or not you’ve experienced swelling in your eyes, Dr. Singh says.
“One of the reasons to get a regular eye exam is to check for glaucoma, which can slowly damage the optic nerve, or for an early cataract, which clouds the lens in the eye and also affects your vision,” she says.
An eye exam could also reveal signs of systemic diseases like:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Carotid artery disease
- Lymphoma
If you are under the age of 40, Dr. Singh recommends seeing an eye doctor every four or five years. After age 40, see your eye doctor every two or three years. Anyone who is age 50 or older should visit their eye doctor once a year, she says.
“If you follow these guidelines, your eye doctor may discover blinding conditions which you may otherwise miss, like glaucoma,” she says.
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