Understanding and Addressing Swollen Eyes: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Remedies

After a short night’s sleep, you often see a pale face with swollen eyes the following day. Even in mourning phases, it is understandable if the eyes look tearful and thick. But what if your eyes keep swelling even without a lack of sleep or crying from grief?

Many stimuli can cause problems for our sensitive eyes. If your eyes keep getting swollen, you should get to the bottom of the problem. Here, we present a wide variety of causes that could be behind your swollen eyes.

Allergies as a cause of swollen eyes

There are many causes of swollen eyes. However, if you pay attention to the subtle differences between the symptoms, identifying and eliminating the trigger is often possible.

Allergies are a prevalent cause of swollen eyes. Then both eyes are usually affected: they itch, are red and water. Sometimes, the conjunctiva is also swollen. Usually, the triggers are seasonal pollen, animal hair or mites. To determine the cause more precisely, you can do an allergy test.

 

Seven Tips Against Typical Allergy Triggers

• Pollen tends to fly in the mornings in rural areas and the evenings in cities. Stay indoors at these times.
• Wash your hair before you go to bed to get rid of pollen that has stuck in it.
• Worn clothes should not be kept in the bedroom as they may carry pollen.
• Fly screens in front of the windows can minimize the pollen concentration.
• Leave the windows closed when driving.
• When planning your vacation, please note the regional and seasonal pollen concentration.
• If you are allergic to dust mites, you should change your bed linen frequently.

If none helps, you can also treat your allergy with medication. Ask your doctor which supplement is best for you and your situation.

Dry Eyes: Harbinger of swollen eyes

Some people are sensitive to certain cosmetics, medicines, or contact lenses. In this case, it is essential to avoid the trigger, for example, by using natural cosmetics or changing the type of contact lenses. Contact lenses often dry out the eyes during the day and cause night swelling. Unique day and night lenses can help.

Dry eyes lead to a slight inflammation – the swelling is a physiological reaction. Long work periods in front of the computer or dry heating air can also lead to dry eyes.

Lid infection: a case for the ophthalmologist

Another cause of a swollen eye can be an eyelid infection. In contrast to an allergy, the affected eye is also overheated. A doctor should be consulted if this symptom occurs, as the infection can spread throughout the eye. If fever and pain occur at the same time, quick action is indicated.

Puffy eyes in the morning

If you have swollen eyes, especially in the morning, this may be due to congestion in the lymph. Because of the horizontal position when sleeping, this bodily fluid, essential for the immune system, drains more poorly. Elevated sleeping posture or regular lymphatic drainage can help.

You can also become active with the help of a care roller: Gently massage the lower eye area by moving the care roller from the inside outwards and down the side of the eye.

Sometimes, a high-salt meal the night before can also cause puffy eyes in the morning. If you often struggle with swollen eyes, you should refrain from overeating salted food in the evening. You should also make sure you drink enough and avoid alcohol.

In the case of chronically swollen eyes, it is advisable to have a thorough examination by a doctor because even severe diseases of the heart or kidneys, high blood pressure or an underactive thyroid gland can be hidden behind chronically swollen eyes.

Swollen eye after being hit or hit

A swollen eye can also result from an external force on the eye, for example, after a blow or impact. In this case, a bruise usually forms, which can expand around the eye like glasses.

The first aid measure is to cool the affected eye area. However, no pressure should be exerted on the eye. In addition, an ophthalmologist should be consulted promptly to rule out an internal eye injury or broken bones.

 

Proven home remedies for thick eyes

If you only occasionally have problems with swollen eyes and would like to do something yourself without much effort, there are some home remedies for treatment. Cold has a pleasant effect on swollen eyes and reduces swelling: spoil your eye area with a cooling cucumber mask or place a cold tea bag on the swollen eyelids. It’s also a good idea to keep a tablespoon in the fridge and cool your eyes with it for five minutes if needed.

Other aids in any pharmacy or drugstore are draining creams or eye pads. These products contain active ingredients such as caffeine or green tea, which are said to have a decongestant effect.

Hemorrhoid ointment for swollen eyes?

One trick models use to treat puffy eyes is to apply a thin layer of haemorrhoid ointment under the eyes. Such creams have a vasoconstrictive effect and thus counteract swelling.

A word of caution here:  some products contain cortisone, which makes skin thin and papery. In addition, the ingredient lidocaine – a pain reliever – can cause a numb feeling in the area where the cream has been applied. Therefore, haemorrhoid ointment should only be used for its intended purpose and not on the face.

Skilfully cover up swollen eyes.

You can skilfully cover up your swollen eyes with a few simple tricks: Do not use concealer or light eye shadow on swollen eyes because they are bulky. Instead, only apply mascara to the outer lashes and let the eyeliner run diagonally upwards to create a lifting effect.

Ultimately, it should be remembered that enough sleep is a prerequisite for a wide-awake look. Only those who are inwardly rested can convey this through their eyes.