Best Home Remedies of Swollen Eyes along With Treatment

Overview

Swollen Eyes! What are the reasons behind it? There can be many reasons for swelling or puffiness around your eyes. There are many home remedies of swollen eyes. But first, it helps to understand the difference between swelling and puffiness.

Puffiness is usually mild and goes away on its own. Common causes include:

• crying
• not enough sleep
• eye irritation

Swelling of the eyelid can also come from allergies, infection, a stye or a blocked gland. Swelling that is painful, spreading or affecting your vision needs medical care.

Treatments of swollen eyes

• If you have a stye, a warm compress can help the swollen eyes. A stye is a painful bump on the eyelid edge caused by a bacterial infection. A chalazion is a blocked oil gland farther back on the lid that is usually not painful, and it is treated the same way. MedlinePlus advises a warm, wet cloth for 10 minutes, four times a day, and never squeezing the bump.
• What? Have you eaten a lot of salty food? Too much sodium can make your body hold on to water, which can show up as puffy eyes. Here is what may help:

* Cutting back on salt and eating a balanced diet that includes potassium-rich foods may help your body balance fluids. For example,

1. bananas
2. yogurt
3. potatoes
4. dried apricot
5. cooked Broccoli

• If you're suffering from an allergy, rinse your eyes with clean water or artificial tears and avoid the trigger. Over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops can ease itching and swelling. Rinsing helps wash dust, pollen and other particles out of your eyes.
• Smoke can irritate the eyes and make them puffy. Avoid smoke, and wash your face, clothes and hair after exposure.
• If you have an eye infection, avoid touching your eyes so it does not spread, and wash your hands often. A clean, warm compress may ease discomfort. See a clinician for any infection with pain, discharge or vision changes.
• Tear ducts drain tears away from the eyes. If they become blocked, tears can build up and cause watering and swelling. Blocked tear ducts often need a doctor's evaluation, especially in adults.
• If you are exhausted or not getting enough sleep, fluid can build up around your eyes overnight. Apply a cool compress while lying down, and sleep with your head slightly raised.
• If you are wearing contacts and you are feeling your eyes are getting swell. Immediately remove the contacts. Close your eyes and have some rest.
• Rest, cool compresses, elevating the head, and drinking water may help reduce eye swelling after crying.

Cosmetics is also the reason for swollen eyes

When cosmetics and skincare products get into the eyes, they can irritate the eyes and surrounding skin, causing swelling, redness and pain.

If you have burning, swollen eyes after using a product, rinse your eyes with clean water and use artificial tears (lubricating eye drops) from the drugstore. Stop using the product.

If the burning continues or gets worse, see an eye doctor. Avoid eye-whitening drops or other products to soothe the pain, as they can react with leftover cosmetics or skincare ingredients.

Some other home remedies of swollen eyes:

Here are some other home remedies to ease swollen eyes.

Cool serums or creams

You can keep your creams and eye serum in a cool place or fridge that soothes your eyes and helps you to reduce swelling, itching, and pain, etc.

Teabags

Placing chilled tea bags over closed eyes while lying down can soothe puffiness. Put the used tea bags in the fridge for about 10 minutes first. The cool temperature does most of the work, and some people believe the caffeine also helps, though evidence is limited. Avoid this if you have an eye infection.

Massage

Gentle tapping or massage around your eyes may help move fluid and reduce puffiness. Do not press on the eyeball.

Go and see a doctor

• The swelling does not improve after 48 hours of home care, or gets worse.
• Your eye or eyelid becomes painful, hot or red.
• Your vision gets worse or becomes blurry.
• Pus or blood drains from the eye or a bump.
• The eye swells shut, or swelling spreads to your cheek.
• You have a fever with eyelid swelling.

Seek emergency care right away if swelling comes with trouble breathing or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, which can be a severe allergic reaction.

HP Thoughts: Swollen eyes are sometimes caused by allergens in our surroundings. How would you cope if you contract one? We show you how: Allergic Conjunctivitis.

Conclusion

Mild eye puffiness is common and usually goes away on its own or with simple home care like cool compresses and rest. A stye or chalazion usually improves with warm compresses.

If swelling lasts, keeps coming back, or comes with pain, fever or vision changes, see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Sources

• Eyelid bump, MedlinePlus
• Stye (Sty), Cleveland Clinic