A lot of fluid in the intercellular space leads to swollen eyelids. It can appear in one eye or both. This symptom may be evidence of some diseases. The causes of swollen eyelids and treatment are described in the article.
Associated symptoms
With pain in the eyes and swelling of the eyelid, the appearance is likely:
- dark circles under the eyes;
- increased pressure under the skin;
- dilation of small vessels around the eyes;
- temperature increase;
- lacrimation;
- itching and itching;
- feeling of thorns in the eyes;
- redness;
- flaking eyelid skin;
- eye soreness;
- decrease in visual acuity;
- headache.
If one eyelid is swollen, then the cause may be infection, as well as the presence of inflammation. In this case, you should not try to take any measures on your own, it is better to consult a doctor.
Reasons
Why is my upper eyelid swollen? The simplest reason is the high fluid intake insoon. If swelling occurs rarely, then this does not pose a he alth hazard.
When swollen eyelids are common, a medical examination is required to identify the disease. Edema also occurs for other reasons, for example, with changes in the hormonal system in women during menstruation.
Inflammation
The causes of swollen eyelids may lie in the inflammatory process. Often associated with:
- Barley. In this case, swelling of the upper eyelid appears. Noticeably rounded to the touch. Swelling of the right eyelid or the left. A rare phenomenon occurs when several barleys are formed. Hyperemia also occurs - a local increase in temperature.
- Conjunctivitis. This disease is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. In this case, the eyelids swell and redden, lacrimation occurs, redness of the sclera.
- Purulent diseases - erysipelas, endophthalmitis. In these cases, the appearance of fever, pain, watery eyes, swelling, pus is likely.
Erysipelas also causes other symptoms: hot skin over a painful swollen area. In difficult cases, the appearance of gangrene, bleeding ulcers is likely. With furunculosis, one or more boils are formed - this is a rounded purulent formation that affects the hair follicle, sebaceous gland and surrounding connective tissue.
Endophthalmitis is a severe inflammation of the internal structures of the organs of vision. With it, there is a pronounced hyperemia of the sclera, visual impairment,lacrimation.
If a child's eyelid is swollen and reddened, the reasons may be the same as in adults. Only a doctor can accurately determine the factor that led to this.
Non-inflammatory processes
Swollen and reddened upper eyelids as a symptom:
- Kidney disease - glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, amyloidosis, renal failure. With these ailments, the upper eyelids usually swell in both eyes. They are pale, this phenomenon appears in the morning.
- Diseases of the heart and blood vessels: cardiomyopathy, cardiosclerosis, heart failure. Edema occurs in the evening, disappears after rest. They are dense to the touch, and bluish in color.
- Benign neoplasms on the upper eyelid: papilloma, fibroma, lipoma. In appearance, they have a rounded shape, they do not show pain.
- Malignant neoplasms - oncology. At first, the disease does not manifest itself. Then there may be swelling in the corner of the eyelid or in its center. In the later stages, many symptoms occur: tearing and redness, pain, ulceration, bleeding. Common signs include weakness, weight loss, pale skin.
Swollen eyelids in babies can appear for the same reasons as in adults. Treatment will depend on the factors that led to the condition.
Allergy
If the upper eyelid is swollen and reddened, then the reason may be an allergic reaction:
- Quincke's edema. It occurs suddenly and grows rapidly. There may also be swelling of the throat and tongue. Usually causebecome allergens that have entered the body. Most often, this condition causes honey, chicken protein, citrus fruits, pollen of flowering plants, preservatives, dust, and some drugs. Angioedema requires urgent medical attention, as this condition is dangerous.
- Mild allergy. Appears from exposure to various allergens, to which a person is highly sensitive. There may be itching, eye pain, swelling of the upper eyelids.
If a child has swollen and reddened eyelids, this is often associated with allergies. In any case, to clarify the cause, you need to contact a specialist.
Mechanical causes
Swollen eyelids and exposure to mechanical factors:
- Drinking plenty of fluids at night. These swellings disappear quickly. This phenomenon occurs from excessive drinking of water, alcohol abuse, sweet carbonated drinks. If the cause is removed, the tissues will not swell.
- Injuries of the organs of vision. These include a bruise, a blow, an injury, a rehabilitation period after surgery. During the initial examination, it will be noticeable that the person has a very swollen eyelid and hurts. There is redness of the skin at the site of injury. Pain appears when blinking, touching.
- Foreign body. Swollen and reddened upper eyelids arise from the ingress of metal chips, coarse dust. There is tearing, pain in the eye.
These reasons are among the most common in both adults and children.
After sleep
Intercellularthe space fills up slowly at night due to the long stay of a person in a horizontal position. The blood flow worsens a little, and therefore edema occurs. Often this is associated with problems of the genitourinary system. And if alcohol was drunk in the evening, then swollen upper eyelids will be observed in the morning.
After sleep, this phenomenon is due to:
- use of low-quality cosmetics;
- overeating smoked-s alty food;
- kidney failure;
- blood flow disorders;
- development of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
If the swollen upper eyelids are permanent, then a doctor's consultation is necessary. Complications are likely in the form of atrophy of the cell parenchyma, sclerosis of the eyes, decreased vision, thickening of tissues, replacement of cells with parenchymal ones.
In the morning, swelling of the eyes appears from:
- allergies;
- insect bite;
- mechanical damage.
Eliminate morning puffiness with drops that relieve irritation and swelling. These are Sulfacetamide, Vizin, Likontin. Other eye drops are also effective - Ketotifen, Kromoheksal.
In children
If a child often has swollen eyelids, then a visit to a pediatrician is required. The reasons for this phenomenon are:
- introducing new foods into the diet;
- taking antihistamines;
- penetration of metal dust into the eyes;
- contact with pollen.
Factors may be infectious. This may lead toviral, bacterial conjunctivitis. This frequent and contagious phenomenon leads to swelling of the orbit, itching, discharge of pus.
You need to take antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Another cause is considered to be intracranial pressure. To establish the diagnosis, you need to conduct a series of studies in the laboratory. Recurring symptoms should not be ignored.
Diagnosis
If swelling of the upper eyelids appears, you should consult a doctor. The specialist usually asks when and under what circumstances this symptom occurred, as well as how long it persists. Diagnosis is performed using:
- complete blood count;
- urinalysis;
- blood chemistry;
- electrocardiography;
- abdominal ultrasound.
These procedures allow you to accurately determine the cause of swollen eyelids and sore eyes. Only after confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment to eliminate discomfort.
First Aid
In order to prevent the consequences of an injury to the eyelid, it is necessary to perform first aid. If chemicals come into contact with eyes, rinse them with plenty of cool water. After that, they are covered with a napkin, and then they go to the doctor.
If a speck, eyelash or other object has entered the eye, then it is required to cause tears by tightly closing your eyes. This allows you to clear your eyes. If a mote penetrates into a noticeable part of the eyeball or lower eyelid, it will turn out to be softpaper towel or handkerchief. If it is located on top, then you should pull the upper eyelid and remove it with a napkin.
If it was not possible to fix the problem on your own, then you need to cover the eye with a napkin and consult a doctor. It is impossible to remove foreign bodies on your own if metal chips have penetrated. Or the object has penetrated the iris, the eyeball.
Treatment
If the upper eyelid is swollen, what should I do? Treatment depends on the cause:
- Barley. The painful place is treated with "Tetracycline", "Erythromycin", "Gentamicin".
- Conjunctivitis. For treatment, eye drops with antimicrobial action are used. These are Albucid, Tobrex, Phloxal.
- Purulent ailments. It is required to take antibacterial agents intravenously (Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime), in the form of eye ointments or drops (Tobrex, Albucid).
- Somatic ailments. Treatment should be performed by specialized specialists. In case of kidney diseases, an appeal to a therapist and a nephrologist is required, in case of heart ailments, to a therapist and a cardiologist. In case of oncology - to an oncologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist.
- Dermatitis and allergies. Complex therapy allows you to get rid of edema. Effective enterosorbents - "Enterosgel", "Polysorb", "Smekta". Antihistamines are also used - Cetrin, Suprastin, Tavegil. In difficult cases, drugs such as Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone are used. Drops are applied locally - Dexamethasone and Allergodil.
- In the presence of a foreign body, the edema is removed with drops of "Vizin". Prior to this, extraction is requiredforeign body.
- If the lower eyelid is swollen and hurts from injury after surgery, then Vizin drops are used.
The use of medication usually helps to solve the problem of eyelid swelling. In most cases, unpleasant symptoms disappear after the first application. If swelling appears constantly, then you should not ignore the problem. Timely diagnosis and treatment can quickly eliminate the cause of eyelid swelling.
Folk remedies
Folk treatments are based on the use of herbal decoctions. In the pharmacy, you can purchase the following products in filter bags: diuretic herbal collection, lingonberry leaf, flaxseed. For a quick result, ice cubes from a decoction of parsley are placed on the eyes. If the eyelid of the baby is swollen, then it is better not to take any independent actions. Seek medical attention.
You can make a compress from cottage cheese. It will take 1 tbsp. l. the product, which is folded into gauze, is applied to the site of swelling. Leave overnight. And so for 2-3 weeks.
An effective measure is taking a shower to normalize metabolism, improve blood circulation. A swollen eyelid should be held under a stream of cold water. The procedure is performed twice a day.
Helps decoction based on sage. It will take 1 tbsp. l. raw materials, which are kept in a water bath for 20 minutes, filter. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day.
In the presence of swelling of the upper eyelid, prepare an herbal solution of chamomile, calendula and strong tea. Everyone mixes upthen the eyes are washed with the solution.
Parsley seeds (2 tablespoons) pour boiling water (250 ml). The remedy is languishing on fire, and then filtered. It is necessary to take 2 tbsp. l. three times a day.
Flax seeds are a natural diuretic. For the second remedy, 4 tbsp. l. seeds to which 1 liter of water is added. It is required to boil and let the composition brew. Take it ½ cup warm.
Flax, parsley, carrots have a carminative diuretic effect. You can make a puree soup that will get rid of puffy eyes in adults and children.
To get an anti-allergic mask, chop parsley, add sour cream in a ratio of 1: 2 and apply lotions. Compresses based on chamomile infusion, black and green tea are also used.
The mask of apple, cucumber and potato helps. Products are rubbed on a grater, they need to be applied in a warm form. You can also use pharmaceutical lifting serums.
The use of folk remedies is effective and safe, so they are suitable for adults and children.
Other treatments
In addition to the indicated methods of therapy, other methods also help:
- Mesotherapy. The procedure consists in introducing microinjections of special active substances into the skin.
- Physiotherapy. Subcutaneous lymph nodes are stimulated by microcurrent therapy.
- Massage. To restore the functioning of the lymphatic system, a hardware vacuum-roller or conventional manual is used. These types of massage stimulate lymphatic drainage - removal of excessfluid from the intercellular space. By improving the outflow, swollen eyelids will stop bothering you.
- Cosmetics. Creams, masks, serums, lotions help eliminate swelling and inflammation.
- In some cases, swelling occurs for cosmetic reasons, which can be eliminated by blepharoplasty. This is a surgical intervention that is prescribed to restore the elasticity of the skin of the eyelids, eliminate bags and edema. The operation can also change the shape of the eyes.
All of these methods, although effective, should be prescribed by a doctor. The method of therapy depends on the cause of the swelling.
What to consider?
If the eyelids swell, the eyes hurt and watery, then you can not do the following to prevent complications:
- Heat the sore spot if the cause is an inflammatory disease of the upper eyelid.
- Squeeze pustules or pierce them with non-sterile items.
- Use decorative cosmetics, as this can lead to sepsis, meningitis.
When the cause of the swelling is clear, then the elimination of provoking factors is required:
- If there is pain in the eye socket, then you need to see a specialist.
- If you experience constant swelling in the morning, you should go to an appointment with a therapist. Probably, the problem is in the kidneys, the metabolic process. The doctor will refer the patient to the necessary tests.
- If the problem of periodic puffiness is notdisappears after the use of alternative methods of treatment, then they consult a doctor for the appointment of medications. Antibiotics, antihistamines for instillation into the eyes are usually prescribed. They will help eliminate the unpleasant phenomenon in a short time.
If the cause is unknown and folk remedies do not help, then self-medication can lead to complex consequences. It is advisable to identify the factors that led to this, as well as begin treatment.
Prevention
Swelling of the eyelids can be prevented by taking effective preventive measures:
- Liquid restriction required 2 hours before bedtime.
- Alcohol should be avoided.
- S alty and sweet foods should be eaten as little as possible. Swollen eyes and due to the fact that s alt and glucose are considered osmotically active components, they retain water, disrupt its excretion.
- Timely treatment of diseases of the eyes, kidneys and heart is necessary.
- Protective masks must be worn while working in production.
- Sunglasses required in bright sunshine.
If, even if the recommendations are followed, swelling of the eyelids and pain in the eyes appear, medical attention is needed. Only a doctor can provide advice on effective treatment.
