Swollen eyes

As the name suggests, the eyes look swollen or puffy. This can be caused by many things, such as lifestyle, but in most cases it is not worth worrying about.

Many factors can contribute to puffy eyes, but the most common cause is the accumulation of fluid around the eyes and surrounding skin tissue. The condition may also be accompanied by the appearance of dark circles or redness of the eyes.

Common symptoms:

• Swollen eyelids;
• Swollen lower eyelid;
• Dark circles in the forehead;
• Eye redness.

Eye puffiness is caused by the accumulation of fluid in and around the eyes, and can occur for many reasons, such as:

• Allergies – the skin around the eye is very thin and therefore quite sensitive. When this skin comes into contact with allergens such as animal fur, dust mites or airborne pollen, it can cause swelling or swelling. The use of antihistamines may help if the eye swelling is allergy-related. It is always best to check with your GP before starting any new medication.
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye) – this common condition causes symptoms such as redness, itching, swelling and sometimes discharge from the eye. If you think you have conjunctivitis, you should see your GP, who will probably prescribe eye drops to treat the infection.
• Improper contact lens care – eye puffiness can occur if you wear contact lenses for too long. Contact lenses can act as a barrier, preventing sufficient oxygen from entering the eye. This can cause your cornea to swell and swell. Sleeping without removing your lenses puts even more pressure on your eyes, which can increase swelling.
• Crying – Tears produced by crying contain more water than tears produced when the eye tries to clean itself. The tissue in your eyes is high in salt, so when watery tears come into contact with this tissue, they swell. Swelling of the eyes can also be increased if you rub or wipe your eyes while crying. To reduce eye puffiness after crying, try putting a cool piece of damp flannel over your eyes for a few minutes.
• Excessive salt intake – salt promotes fluid retention in the body, including the tissues around the eyes. This can lead to swollen eyes. The amount of salt intake that leads to eye puffiness varies from person to person.
• Age – some people are genetically predisposed to eye puffiness, which usually occurs between 30 and 40 years of age. As we age, the fat deposits that normally support the eye begin to fall off, causing the swelling effect. Age-related or genetic eye puffiness should not normally be a cause for concern.

Swollen eyes can sometimes be a sign of other health problems. However, this is rare and often there are other symptoms as well. If eye swelling causes pain or discomfort, it is best to be checked by a general practitioner.