Eye swelling is considered a fairly common occurrence. This condition is associated with a high fluid content in the tissues of the eyelids. As a rule, pathology occurs in people aged 30 years and older. However, there are times when this symptom occurs in children. This article talks about the causes of the symptom and what to do if your eyes are swollen.
General information
If swelling occurs infrequently, it usually does not cause discomfort. But if a person regularly encounters this condition, it indicates the presence of disorders in the body. Sometimes there is swelling under the eyes due to the loose texture of the tissues, the abundance of blood vessels in it or the weakness of the muscles of the eyelids. Pathologies of a general nature or local nature can also cause this phenomenon. A swelling forms on one or both sides. Sometimes it affects only the upper or lower eyelid tissue.
Varieties of pathology
Specialists distinguish three groups of factors that are an explanation of why the eyes swell. These include:
- Inflammatory process. Swelling is accompanied by redness and burning of the skin of the eyelids, a feeling of discomfort in the eyes. As a rule, edema in this case is one-sided.
- The development of an allergic reaction. The skin does not always itch. Usually there is a burning sensation inside the eye and a red tint of protein. Often the swelling is located in the upper eyelid, on the one hand.
- Health problems that do not affect the organs of vision, an improper diet or daily routine. Such edema is not accompanied by burning, discomfort, redness and high temperature on the skin surface. Swelling is observed on both sides, mainly in the morning. It applies not only to the eye area, but also to other parts of the body.
If a person has severely swollen eyes, he should seek help from a specialist to undergo a diagnosis and identify possible causes of the symptom. This pathology can lead to dangerous consequences. As terrible complications, doctors call an increase in pressure inside the eye and complete loss of vision.
Concomitant symptoms
The swelling caused by the action of microorganisms is usually associated with discomfort in the eyelids and a red tint of the skin. If the swelling proceeds in a mild form, external changes are hardly noticeable. The pathology of a pronounced nature is accompanied by an almost complete closure of the slit of the eye. A person loses the ability to visual perception. The swelling is very noticeable externally. Speaking about a symptom such as eye swelling, causes and treatment, mention should be made of the main factors that contribute to its occurrence.
What causes a tendency to swelling?
As common diseases, experts call:
- Individual intolerance to certain substances. With this feature, a person, as a rule, notices that his eyes are swollen. The condition is explained by an increase in blood vessels in the eyelids and swelling of the mucous membranes. Concomitant symptoms that are observed in the presence of allergies are abundant tears, severe itching and reddened proteins.
- Negative effects of harmful microorganisms. It can cause an inflammatory process in the connective membrane of the eye. In this case, redness occurs, a strong outflow of pus or tears.
- The formation of barley. Such a disease develops as a result of exposure to viruses. It is characterized by the appearance of red swelling on the surface of the eyelid.
- The development of cysts in the tissues due to the inflammatory process. Pathology provokes soreness and swelling of the eye. Treatment involves the use of hormonal drugs. With the advanced form of the cyst, surgical intervention is required.
- A disease of the ciliary part of the eyelids, which is inflammatory in nature.
- Mechanical damage to the eye. It is characterized not only by swelling, but also by the formation of a hematoma.
- Cancerous pathology.
- Incorrect lens treatment, use of unsuitable solutions. This phenomenon can cause viral infections and the development of an allergic reaction.
- Inflammation of the tissues around the eye, which usually affects the cheek, the area of the eyebrow. Pathology provokes severe swelling and discomfort in the region of the upper and lower eyelids, an increase in temperature. It can lead to complete loss of vision, therefore, it needs therapy with drugs from the antibiotic group under the supervision of specialists.
- Herpes virus infection.
Other pathological processes
Sometimes a symptom is provoked by diseases that are not associated with the organs of vision.
In some cases, eye swelling is observed for reasons of a different nature, for example:
- Autoimmune pathology caused by excessive thyroid activity. In this condition, the eyelids swell. Eyes become bulging, vision is impaired.
- Parasitic infestations.
- Serious disorders of the urinary system.
- Dehydration.
- The presence of problems with veins, their blockage.
- Mononucleosis infection.
- Diseases of the myocardium and blood vessels. Often heart failure, rhythm disturbances and other serious problems cause eye swelling. The causes of this condition may be a heart attack or cerebral hemorrhage.
Non-pathological swelling
Among the factors that are not explained by injuries and diseases, the following can be listed:
- Crying for a long time. There are several types of tear fluid. The first serves to moisturize the mucous membrane of the eyes. The second creates protection against adverse factors (smoke, dust, foreign objects). The third type is associated with an emotional reaction. When a person is crying, tear ducts are strained and a large amount of fluid is released from them. These processes are accompanied by pain in the head, fatigue, redness of the skin of the face and swelling of the eyes.
- Abuse of alcohol-containing products, smoking.
- Spicy and salty foods eaten at night.
- The period of gestation.
- Critical days.
- Taking certain medications (allergy medications, vasodilators, flu pills, sore throats, and so on).
- Drinking plenty of water in the evening.
If eye swelling occurs, what should I do in this situation? First of all, the reason for the development of this phenomenon should be established.
Pathology localization
Depending on where the swelling is located, you can determine what factors provoked it. For example, edema of the upper eyelid is most common in patients 30 years of age and older.
It is associated with inflammatory pathologies of the organs of vision, infections or mechanical damage. Sometimes a person suffering from a disease of a chronic nature notices that his eyes are swollen.
A swelling located in the lower region of the eyelid is often explained by hereditary features of the structure of tissues. But often it also signals the presence of serious violations in the work of the myocardium or urinary system, as well as a dysfunction of the thyroid gland. If such a phenomenon occurs periodically and does not cause severe discomfort, it indicates an unbalanced diet and an unhealthy lifestyle. Refusal from alcohol, tobacco, low-quality cosmetics, restriction of salty and spicy foods help to cope with the problem.
Swelling of the eyes in childhood
This condition in juvenile patients occurs for about the same reasons as in adults. It is observed with pathologies of the organs of vision or other health problems. Often in children, due to their high activity, mechanical damage to the eyelids occurs. There are a number of factors that explain why the baby's eyes are swollen. These include:
- The occurrence of individual intolerance. The child’s body is very sensitive to environmental influences. Eating certain foods, arthropod bites, medications, animal fur, flowers, or herbs can cause similar reactions. In this case, it is undesirable to resort to self-medication. You should show the child to a specialist as soon as possible.
- Purulent process in the area of the lacrimal sac. This disease is accompanied by swelling, mucous secretions, discomfort of the affected eyelid, a red tint and a high temperature of the skin around the eye.
- Mechanical damage. As a rule, a hematoma appears first, and then edema.
- Disorders of the urinary system.
- Purulent processes in the orbit. A whole complex of symptoms is characteristic of the disease (redness and high temperature of the skin of the eyelid, blurred vision, pain in the head, feeling of nausea).
- Myocardial Function Disorders.
- Anemia.
- Increased pressure inside the skull.
If the child's eyes swell, first of all, it is necessary to pay attention to his daily regimen. It is advisable to reduce the amount of time that the baby spends at the computer and watching TV shows. It is important to take regular walks. However, in the case when the symptom persists even after changing the daily routine, you need to consult a doctor for examination and therapy.
How to get rid of a problem?
Speaking about edema under the eyes, causes and treatment of pathology, it should be emphasized that measures to combat this phenomenon depend on the factors that provoked it. Therefore, if the symptom causes anxiety and is accompanied by malaise, you need to seek medical help. After diagnostic procedures, a specialist will prescribe therapy that will help to cope with the problem. Swelling of the eyelids caused by an allergic reaction is eliminated by special means in the form of ointments, drops, tablets, as well as drugs containing hormones.
In the case when the cause of edema is the effect of microbes, prescribe washing with disinfecting solutions, physiotherapy, antibiotics. In case of mechanical damage, the wound is disinfected. If there is no open injury, but there is a hematoma, ice lotions should be used. Edema not associated with the presence of an allergy or virus is treated in other ways. A patient who has been diagnosed with impaired activity of the urinary system, blood vessels or myocardium needs to be treated with a disease that caused the symptom.
How to eliminate swelling using folk methods
Such recommendations should only be used as an aid. They eliminate only the external manifestations of the pathology, but do not struggle with its cause. With edema under the eyes, treatment with alternative methods includes:
- Masks made of cottage cheese or sour cream with a high fat content, with extracts of aloe, green tea or pharmacy chamomile.
- Lotions with the addition of boric alcohol, a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Grated raw potatoes with a decoction of calendula, which is applied to the skin in the eyelids.
- Dressings made from infusion of oak bark, peppermint or tea help relieve swelling caused by inflammation.
How to prevent a symptom?
Prevention includes:
- Avoid contact with substances that may cause individual intolerance.
- Refusal of poor-quality cosmetics.
- Compliance with the rules for the care of vision correction.
- The elimination of addictions, the right diet.
- Adequate therapy of pathologies that can cause swelling of the eyelids.
And most importantly - you can not leave these symptoms without attention. Everything has a reason, and the sooner it is determined, the better.