Puffy Eyes: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis
What is Puffy Eyes?
Puffy eyes, often not linked to underlying disease, can stem from aging, hereditary factors, allergies, fluid retention, high salt intake, trauma, or lack of sleep. This swelling, termed chemosis, may result from conditions like conjunctivitis, blepharitis, crying, or eye rubbing, leading to redness, pain, itching, or excessive tearing.
Diagnosis for Puffy Eyes
If a person thinks they may have periorbital edema or puffy eyes, they should speak to a physician. A doctor can help diagnose the underlying cause.
- Blood test
- Allergy tests
- Skin biopsy
- Imaging tests
Treatment for Puffy Eyes
The treatment of each case of periorbital edema or puffy eyes depends on the cause.
- Following a low-salt diet
- Increase water intake
- Placing a cold compress on the eyes for a few minutes at a time
Some commonly prescribed medical treatments include:
- Corticosteroids : Applied topically or by mouth, these can help reduce inflammation around the eyes.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs : Also applied topically or orally, these can reduce inflammation and pain.
- Antihistamines : These help stop allergic reactions.
- Adrenaline or Epinephrine : These are used when emergency life-saving treatment is needed to treat an anaphylactic reaction.
- Antibiotics : These treat infections that can cause periorbital edema.
Prevention of Puffy Eyes
Various methods exist to reduce eye puffiness, ranging from simple solutions like hydration to more complex options like cosmetic surgery.
Get enough sleep
It is important to remember that your bedtime routine begins long before you go to bed to fall asleep.
- Stick to a sleep schedule
- Stop drinking caffeine at least 6 hours before bedtime
- Stop drinking alcohol before bed
- Finish eating dinner about 3 hours before bedtime
- Finish your exercises several hours before bedtime
- Turn off electronics 1 to 2 hours before bedtime
Support yourself
- Turn your head with pillows while sleeping to reduce fluid around the eyes. If needed, lift the head slightly off the bed for the same effect.
- Turn your head with books under the bed legs where your head rests. Consider a bed booster for stability if you see improvement in eye swelling.
Treat your allergies
- Talk to your doctor if you have seasonal or year-round allergies. Allergies can make your eyes redden, swell, and swell.
- Your doctor can help you create a treatment plan to relieve your symptoms. This can include eye drops and over-the-counter.
Drink enough water
- Eye bags can result from dehydration. Drink plenty of water every day to keep your skin healthy.
- To stay on track, consider setting an hourly reminder on your phone. You can also use a refillable water bottle marked with specific times.
Avoid alcohol
- Try to limit or avoid alcohol and other drinks that can dehydrate you. Dehydration can lead to puffy eyes.
- Infuse plain water with fresh fruit to stay hydrated and refreshed. Simply add fruit to a water bottle for infused water that lasts all day.
Pass on the salt
- Eating too much salt can lead to additional water retention in your body.
- According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the current daily value of sodium is 2300 milligrams (mg).
- Over 70% of the sodium in American diets comes from processed or restaurant foods.
- Prepackaged foods like instant soups are often high in sodium.
- Instead, eat more whole foods like fresh vegetables and fruits.
Talk to your doctor about cosmetic surgery
- Consider cosmetic surgery for severe eye swelling if lifestyle changes or other remedies are ineffective.
- One type of surgery is blepharoplasty, which is eyelid surgery. During this procedure, a doctor moves or removes excess fat, muscle, and skin from your eyelid.
- Your doctor may also recommend laser treatments, chemical peels, or prescription medications to help with severe cases of swollen eyes.
Eat more potassium
- Potassium can help reduce excess fluid in your body, so increase your potassium intake.
- If you are already on a high potassium diet, ask your doctor if your potassium levels are okay
Use a cool compress
- You can reduce eye swelling by putting a cool washcloth on your eyelids for about 10 minutes.
- A compress of green or black tea bags can also do the trick. Tea contains antioxidants and caffeine which can reduce inflammation
Try an eye cream
- Look for eye creams containing chamomile, cucumber, and arnica to reduce puffiness. These ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties and can tighten the skin.
- Eye creams and makeup that contain caffeine can also help reduce puffy eyes.
