Nusha Ashjaee / Verywell
Aging
While aging doesn’t cause eye swelling, it can causebags under the eyesthat have a puffy, swollen appearance. As you get older, the skin on your body, including around your eyes, loses its elasticity and firmness.
Eye bags are a normal part of aging and nothing to worry about. The skin around your eyes is thinner than elsewhere, so it’s more susceptible to sagging. Because the skin is more delicate, fluid is also more likely to build up under it. This causes it to sag and can cause bags to form under the eyes.
That said, while surgery is one of the most effective options for eliminating bags under the eyes, it also comes with potential risks. Some medical treatments, like chemical peels, are less invasive and carry with them fewer risks.
Lack of Sleep
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, lack of sleep can contribute to bags forming under the eyes.Sometimes lying down causes retained fluid to collect in the under-eye area, causing swelling and puffiness.
This kind of swelling usually dissipates as the day goes on.
Allergies
Sometimes eye allergies can affect the skin around your eyes. Inflammation and stuffiness from allergies, like pollen, pet dander, and pollutants can cause puffiness under the eyes.
Eye swelling can also be the result ofcontact dermatitis, which is a reaction to an irritant. Ask yourself if you’ve recently tried out a new eye cream or makeup product. Could it be causing a reaction? Some medications, like medicated eye drops, can also cause adverse reactions.
Sinus Congestion
Blocked sinuses can cause swelling around the eyes. The pressure can cause a headache and leave you feeling lousy for the rest of the day.
Nasal Congestion and Treatment Options
Genetics
Some people are genetically predisposed to getting bags under their eyes. This type of puffiness is permanent. Medical treatments, like an eyelift, are usually the only effective options for resolving the saggy appearance.
What to Expect With Eye Bag Surgery
High Salt Intake and Dehydration
Eating a lot of salt can cause you to retain water, causing puffiness in your hands and fingers and under your eyes. Ways to resolve the swelling includereducing salt (sodium) in your dietor making sure you’re adequately hydrated throughout the day.
Graves’ Disease
Graves' disease can cause muscles around the eyes to swell and the eyes to protrude, causing a puffy appearance. Unlike other causes of eye puffiness, it can also produce vision problems such as double vision.
What Is Thyroid Eye Disease?
Styes
Astye (hordeolum)is an inflamed lump that is usually found on the lash line of the eyelid. A stye will usually go away on its own, but in the meantime, it can cause uncomfortable swelling.
Using a warm compress can help the blockage to clear. In some cases, styes require medical treatment. If the swelling is getting worse and doesn’t improve with at-home treatments, see a healthcare provider.
What to Know About Styes
When To See a Healthcare Provider
Similarly, if you’re experiencing problems with your vision, you should seek medical attention. Puffy eyes from allergies or aging shouldn’t affect your sight.
Most swelling goes away within a day or so. However, if you wake up with puffy eyes day after day, it may be because you’re retaining fluid. If this happens once in a while, it’s not usually anything to worry about, but if you’re retaining fluid on a daily basis, it can be a sign of a more serious issue like heart or kidney disease.
In rare cases, eye swelling can be a sign ofeyelid cancer. But cancer of the eye may also produce other symptoms—like vision problems.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to get rid of bags under your eyes.Boyd K.Bags under the eyes. American Academy of Ophthalmology. November 29, 2018.Stepko B.What’s causing your puffy lids and watery eyes?AARP. January 2, 2020.Boyd K.What is Graves’ Disease?American Academy of Ophthalmology. December 1, 2020.Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: baggy eyes. May, 2011.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to get rid of bags under your eyes.Boyd K.Bags under the eyes. American Academy of Ophthalmology. November 29, 2018.Stepko B.What’s causing your puffy lids and watery eyes?AARP. January 2, 2020.Boyd K.What is Graves’ Disease?American Academy of Ophthalmology. December 1, 2020.Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: baggy eyes. May, 2011.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to get rid of bags under your eyes.Boyd K.Bags under the eyes. American Academy of Ophthalmology. November 29, 2018.Stepko B.What’s causing your puffy lids and watery eyes?AARP. January 2, 2020.Boyd K.What is Graves’ Disease?American Academy of Ophthalmology. December 1, 2020.Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: baggy eyes. May, 2011.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to get rid of bags under your eyes.
Boyd K.Bags under the eyes. American Academy of Ophthalmology. November 29, 2018.
Stepko B.What’s causing your puffy lids and watery eyes?AARP. January 2, 2020.
Boyd K.What is Graves’ Disease?American Academy of Ophthalmology. December 1, 2020.
Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: baggy eyes. May, 2011.
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