Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCommon CausesMedical ConditionsMedicationsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Common Causes
Medical Conditions
Medications
Diagnosis
Treatment
There are many causes of eye swelling or puffiness, the most common of which include allergy, a lack of sleep, eating too much sodium, or simple aging. At other times, the swelling (also known asperiorbital edema) may be a sign of a potentially serious medical condition like an eye infection, thyroid disease, or diabetes.
Certain clues can point you in the direction of the cause, including whether the swelling involves one eye or both. There may also be accompanying symptoms like itching, a creamy discharge, or breathing problems.
If the swelling is severe or unexplained, an eye specialist like anoptometrist or ophthalmologistcan help diagnose the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
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Symptoms of Swollen Eyes
Periorbital edema refers to the temporary swelling of tissues around the eyes (“peri” meaning around and"orbital"referring to the eyeball) due to fluid retention.
The symptoms of periorbital edema can vary but often include:
The range of symptoms you experience can suggest the underlying cause. This includes whether the eye swelling is:
Common Causes of Puffy Eyes
The cause of your puffy eyes might be obvious, such as when you’ve been crying or develop hay fever. But there are also times when the cause of eye swelling is not so clear.
Lack of Sleep
When you stay up late or don’t get enough sleep, the breathing patterns you have during a normalsleep cycle—alternating betweenREM and non-REM sleep—are disrupted. This often leads to sleep-disordered breathing in which abnormal patterns of breathing cause blood oxygen levels to drop.
To compensate for the loss of oxygen, blood vessels will dilate (widen) to deliver more blood to tissues. The dilation, in turn, can cause fluids to leach into surrounding tissues. When the delicate tissues of the lower eyelid are involved, puffiness can ensue.
How to Get More Deep Sleep
Diet
Sodiumis one of several minerals that regulate the movement of water in and out of cells. When you consume the right amount of sodium in the form of salt, the balance between the water inside and outside of a cell is maintained.
On the other hand, when you eat too much salt, water is not only retained in cells but also starts to accumulate. This is what water retention means.
Sodium is found in high concentration in foods that are both salty and unsalty, including:
Limiting foods with a high sodium content may help lower the risk of eye puffiness.
Why Crying Causes Puffy EyesFor much the same reason that eating too much salt can cause puffy eyes, the salt in tears can cause fluid retention around the eyes when you cry. The more you cry, the worse the swelling can become.
Why Crying Causes Puffy Eyes
For much the same reason that eating too much salt can cause puffy eyes, the salt in tears can cause fluid retention around the eyes when you cry. The more you cry, the worse the swelling can become.
Allergies
Allergies can also cause puffy eyes. These not only includeseasonal allergies(hay fever) but also allergies to foods and medications.
Allergies result when exposure to an allergy-causing substance (allergen) triggers the release ofhistamineinto the bloodstream. Histamine is a chemical that induces inflammation, causing blood vessels to swell and leak fluids into surrounding tissues.
Some of the more common allergens include:
In most cases, these allergies will cause bilateral swelling. However, a bug bite or an allergy-related condition calledcontact dermatitiscan cause unilateral swelling, leaving one eye swollen and the other one not.
Allergic Conjunctivitis: Everything You Need to Know
Normal Aging
As we age, many parts of our bodies lose muscle tone, firmness, and elasticity. The eyes are no exception.
This not only causes the skin under the eyes to become thin but also undermines the collagen matrix underneath the skin, allowing fat to move into the space. This ultimately results in lower eyelid fat prolapse (“baggy eyes”).
With baggy eyes, the laxity and porousness of the skin make them more vulnerable to fluid retention. The accumulated fat beneath the eyes can also readily absorb and retain fluid.
Dry Skin Under Eyes: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
Genetics
It is more than possible to have inherited a tendency toward puffy eyes and dark circles from your parents. If there are several people in your family with puffy eyes, this could even be a sign of a genetic condition that causes puffy eyes.
In rare instances, an inherited disorder likehereditary angioneurotic edemacan cause recurrent episodes of deep tissue swelling (calledangioedema). The most commonly affected areas are the face, arms, legs, and airways.
More commonly, genetics is likely to affect how your skin ages and how slowly or quickly collagen production diminishes over time. If, for example, one or both of your parents had baggy eyes in their 20s or 30s, you might have the same at that age.
What Is the Genetic Theory of Aging?
Medical Conditions Causing Swollen Eyes
There are many medical conditions in which puffy eyes are common. Some of these cause localized inflammation around the eyes, while others cause metabolic changes that affect the fluid balance throughout the body.
Medical conditions that can cause periorbital edema include:
Swollen Eyes as a Drug Side Effect
Certain drugs can also cause eye puffiness and the accumulation of fluid under the eye, including:
Swollen Eyelid: Allergies, Infections, and More
Diagnosing the Cause of Puffy Eyes
Puffy eyes can often be diagnosed through a physical exam and a review of your medical history. Things like hay fever and conjunctivitis (“pink eye”) are often self-evident, particularly if you have risk factors for the conditions.
At other times, an extensive investigation may be needed if the symptoms are sudden, severe, or recurrent. This is especially true if the eye puffiness is unilateral and occurs for no apparent reason.
Healthcare providers often suspect certain conditions based on how theytypicallypresent themselves. This may start with whether they are typically bilateral or unilateral and whether the symptoms are typically acute or chronic. There are no hard and fast rules.
Depending on the suspected cause, various tests and procedures may be ordered, including:
How Puffy Eyes Are Treated
Puffy eyes are often harmless and don’t require treatment, but there are ways you can minimize swelling and improve the appearance of your eyes. Depending on the cause, you may be able to get rid of puffy eyes completely.
At-Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes
There are a few simple strategies and products you can try at home to relieve swollen eyes, including:
How to Get Rid of Eye Bags Naturally
Depending on the cause of your eye puffiness, different over-the-counter or prescription drugs may be useful, including.
Is Ice Good for Your Face?
Cosmetic Procedures
Outside of cosmetics, several non-invasive treatments may ease chronic eye puffiness or baggy eyes:
Surgery
Blepharoplastyis a cosmetic surgical procedure that lifts the lower eyelid. This is usually done on an outpatient basis underlocal or general anesthesia. It is a relatively common procedure used to readjust the fat in the lower eye area and tighten the muscles and skin surrounding the eye.
The results can vary based not only on the surgeon’s expertise and experience but also on your age, skin quality, and personal expectations.
Eyelid Surgery: Everything You Need to Know
Summary
There are many treatment options, including over-the-counter products, lifestyle changes, and surgical procedures, that can help you lift and firm up the tissue around your eyes. Talk to your healthcare provider if your puffy eyes are an ongoing problem or if you have any changes to your vision.
What Is Excess Fluid Inside the Eyes?
23 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.Haider AS, Gilmore M, Drury B, Morris S.The root cause of periorbital lid oedema.Austral J Gen Pract.2022 Jan-Feb;51(1-2). doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-20-5760American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to get rid of bags under the eyes.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eye allergy overview.Tobin DJ.Introduction to skin aging.J Tissue Viability. 2017;26(1):37-46. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.03.002Wen X, Hu X, Miao L, et al.Epigenetics, microbiota, and intraocular inflammation: New paradigms of immune regulation in the eye.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018;64:84-95. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.01.001MedlinePlus.Hereditary angioedema.National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Osteopathic Association.Chalazion.National Kidney Foundation.10 signs you may have kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pink eye: causes and how it spreads.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetic eye disease.American Optometric Association.Keratitis.Wilhelm H, Schabet M.The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis.Deutsches Ärzteblatt international. 2015;112(37):616-625. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0616MedlinePlus.Orbital cellulitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are styes and chalazia?Penn Medicine.Thyroid eye disease (Graves' disease).National Eye Institute.Uveitis.Kalambay J, Ghazanfar H, Martes Pena K A, et al.Pathogenesis of drug induced non-allergic angioedema: a review of unusual etiologies.Cureus. 2017 Aug;9(8):e1598. doi:10.7759/cureus.1598Naik MN.Hills and valleys: understanding the under-eye.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2016;9(2):61-64. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.184048Goodman GD, Kaufman J, Day D, et al.Impact of smoking and alcohol use on facial aging in women: Results of a large multinational, multiracial, cross-sectional survey.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019;12(8):28-39Joshi M, Perera PS, Korrapati NH.Effective home remedies that provide quick relief for puffy eyes.Int J Progress Sci Technol. 2021;28(2):43-51.Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to get rid of bags under your eyes.Chon BH, Hwang CJ, Perry JD.Treatment options for lower eyelid festoons.Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2021;29(2):301-309. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2021.02.005
23 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.Haider AS, Gilmore M, Drury B, Morris S.The root cause of periorbital lid oedema.Austral J Gen Pract.2022 Jan-Feb;51(1-2). doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-20-5760American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to get rid of bags under the eyes.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eye allergy overview.Tobin DJ.Introduction to skin aging.J Tissue Viability. 2017;26(1):37-46. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.03.002Wen X, Hu X, Miao L, et al.Epigenetics, microbiota, and intraocular inflammation: New paradigms of immune regulation in the eye.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018;64:84-95. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.01.001MedlinePlus.Hereditary angioedema.National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Osteopathic Association.Chalazion.National Kidney Foundation.10 signs you may have kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pink eye: causes and how it spreads.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetic eye disease.American Optometric Association.Keratitis.Wilhelm H, Schabet M.The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis.Deutsches Ärzteblatt international. 2015;112(37):616-625. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0616MedlinePlus.Orbital cellulitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are styes and chalazia?Penn Medicine.Thyroid eye disease (Graves' disease).National Eye Institute.Uveitis.Kalambay J, Ghazanfar H, Martes Pena K A, et al.Pathogenesis of drug induced non-allergic angioedema: a review of unusual etiologies.Cureus. 2017 Aug;9(8):e1598. doi:10.7759/cureus.1598Naik MN.Hills and valleys: understanding the under-eye.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2016;9(2):61-64. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.184048Goodman GD, Kaufman J, Day D, et al.Impact of smoking and alcohol use on facial aging in women: Results of a large multinational, multiracial, cross-sectional survey.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019;12(8):28-39Joshi M, Perera PS, Korrapati NH.Effective home remedies that provide quick relief for puffy eyes.Int J Progress Sci Technol. 2021;28(2):43-51.Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to get rid of bags under your eyes.Chon BH, Hwang CJ, Perry JD.Treatment options for lower eyelid festoons.Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2021;29(2):301-309. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2021.02.005
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.
Haider AS, Gilmore M, Drury B, Morris S.The root cause of periorbital lid oedema.Austral J Gen Pract.2022 Jan-Feb;51(1-2). doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-20-5760American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to get rid of bags under the eyes.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eye allergy overview.Tobin DJ.Introduction to skin aging.J Tissue Viability. 2017;26(1):37-46. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.03.002Wen X, Hu X, Miao L, et al.Epigenetics, microbiota, and intraocular inflammation: New paradigms of immune regulation in the eye.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018;64:84-95. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.01.001MedlinePlus.Hereditary angioedema.National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Osteopathic Association.Chalazion.National Kidney Foundation.10 signs you may have kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pink eye: causes and how it spreads.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetic eye disease.American Optometric Association.Keratitis.Wilhelm H, Schabet M.The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis.Deutsches Ärzteblatt international. 2015;112(37):616-625. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0616MedlinePlus.Orbital cellulitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are styes and chalazia?Penn Medicine.Thyroid eye disease (Graves' disease).National Eye Institute.Uveitis.Kalambay J, Ghazanfar H, Martes Pena K A, et al.Pathogenesis of drug induced non-allergic angioedema: a review of unusual etiologies.Cureus. 2017 Aug;9(8):e1598. doi:10.7759/cureus.1598Naik MN.Hills and valleys: understanding the under-eye.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2016;9(2):61-64. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.184048Goodman GD, Kaufman J, Day D, et al.Impact of smoking and alcohol use on facial aging in women: Results of a large multinational, multiracial, cross-sectional survey.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019;12(8):28-39Joshi M, Perera PS, Korrapati NH.Effective home remedies that provide quick relief for puffy eyes.Int J Progress Sci Technol. 2021;28(2):43-51.Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to get rid of bags under your eyes.Chon BH, Hwang CJ, Perry JD.Treatment options for lower eyelid festoons.Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2021;29(2):301-309. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2021.02.005
Haider AS, Gilmore M, Drury B, Morris S.The root cause of periorbital lid oedema.Austral J Gen Pract.2022 Jan-Feb;51(1-2). doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-20-5760
American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to get rid of bags under the eyes.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eye allergy overview.
Tobin DJ.Introduction to skin aging.J Tissue Viability. 2017;26(1):37-46. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.03.002
Wen X, Hu X, Miao L, et al.Epigenetics, microbiota, and intraocular inflammation: New paradigms of immune regulation in the eye.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018;64:84-95. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.01.001
MedlinePlus.Hereditary angioedema.
National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.
American Osteopathic Association.Chalazion.
National Kidney Foundation.10 signs you may have kidney disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pink eye: causes and how it spreads.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetic eye disease.
American Optometric Association.Keratitis.
Wilhelm H, Schabet M.The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis.Deutsches Ärzteblatt international. 2015;112(37):616-625. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0616
MedlinePlus.Orbital cellulitis.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are styes and chalazia?
Penn Medicine.Thyroid eye disease (Graves' disease).
National Eye Institute.Uveitis.
Kalambay J, Ghazanfar H, Martes Pena K A, et al.Pathogenesis of drug induced non-allergic angioedema: a review of unusual etiologies.Cureus. 2017 Aug;9(8):e1598. doi:10.7759/cureus.1598
Naik MN.Hills and valleys: understanding the under-eye.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2016;9(2):61-64. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.184048
Goodman GD, Kaufman J, Day D, et al.Impact of smoking and alcohol use on facial aging in women: Results of a large multinational, multiracial, cross-sectional survey.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019;12(8):28-39
Joshi M, Perera PS, Korrapati NH.Effective home remedies that provide quick relief for puffy eyes.Int J Progress Sci Technol. 2021;28(2):43-51.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.How to get rid of bags under your eyes.
Chon BH, Hwang CJ, Perry JD.Treatment options for lower eyelid festoons.Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2021;29(2):301-309. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2021.02.005
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