Why do the eyelids swell above the eyes and how to quickly relieve the swelling?

Symptoms of swelling of the eyelids above the eyes

Keep in mind! Swelling of the upper eyelids may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• itching, irritation and burning of the skin above the eyes ;
• change in the color of the skin of the eyelids (it becomes darker or bluish or, on the contrary, turns pale);
• the skin of the eyelids becomes denser to the touch ;
• When closing the eyes, there is a feeling of tension in the eyelids ;
• touching the eyelids causes discomfort or pain ;
• Vessels and capillaries appear on the surface of the eyelids ;
• a small rash may appear.

Other unusual signs or sensations may also appear. When they appear, it is necessary to undergo an examination that will allow you to accurately determine the cause of the swelling.

Kinds

Swelling of the upper eyelid can be of three types: inflammatory, non-inflammatory and allergic .

Inflammatory

Inflammation during edema occurs with any bacterial pathology , accompanied by the accumulation and release of pus.

For your information! Inflammatory processes are caused by the accumulation of such secretions in the glands of the organs of vision. If such symptoms are ignored, serious complications may develop.

Non-inflammatory

Non-inflammatory edema is characterized by less pronounced symptoms , which are most pronounced in the morning.

Most often, this type of swelling is bilateral and affects both organs of vision. The cause of the development of pathology is diseases of the internal organs (in particular the kidneys) or the accumulation of fluid in the periocular area.

Allergic

Allergic swelling occurs due to contact of the mucous membranes of the eye or skin above the eye with allergens of various origins.

If there is direct contact of the allergen with the organ of vision, the development of swelling occurs in the next few minutes.

If the allergen enters the body with food, liquid or medications, such a disorder appears only after a few hours.

This type of pathology is the most severe and is accompanied by a deterioration in the general condition and the occurrence of headaches, while swelling can spread to the entire face.

Diagnostics

Important! If you have swelling of the upper eyelid, you should visit an ophthalmologist, who will prescribe examinations to identify possible diseases that contribute to the development of this condition.

The list of diagnostic procedures includes:

• biochemical and general blood test;
• Analysis of urine;
• electrocardiogram;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs (to identify pathologies of the urinary system);
• X-ray of the spine and skull.

If there is no reason to assume that the cause of the swelling lies in ophthalmological diseases, based on the results of the examination, a diagnosis is prescribed by other specialists, depending on the expected diagnosis.

Is this an allergy?

To establish an “allergic” diagnosis in ophthalmology, it is necessary, first of all, to carefully analyze the clinical picture and history, including hereditary predisposition, cases of allergies in blood relatives, similar reactions suffered by the patient in the past, allergens known to him and specific to him, dependence on the time of year, presence of pets in the apartment, etc. Laboratory blood tests are prescribed - in particular, the concentration of allergic markers - eosinophils, immunoglobulin E is studied. The most accurate way to identify an allergen, if it is unknown, is a series of intradermal injection allergy tests, however, even when testing the reaction to hundreds of potentially allergenic samples, there is no guarantee that it will be found the substance that is the dominant allergen for a given patient.

Causes

Swelling of the upper eyelid is not always a consequence of some disease. Sometimes the reasons for such a violation may be :

• improper distribution of fluid in the body in hot weather , with not only the eyelids swelling, but also the face in general, as well as the limbs;
• eating large amounts of salty or spicy foods or dishes before bedtime
• incorrect position of the head relative to the body during sleep. With prolonged violation of the body position, the fluid in the body is distributed in such a way that a large amount of it flows to the eyelids;
• prolonged overexertion, stress, lack of sleep and fatigue;
• alcohol abuse. In such cases, there is also an imbalance of fluid balance in the body, which contributes to the concentration of a significant amount of moisture in the eye area;
• restriction of drinking regime (with a lack of fluid, the body begins to accumulate moisture in different areas, one of which is the eyelid area).

Know! These are non-clinical reasons that lead to short-term swelling. In most cases, specific treatment is not required, and when the underlying cause is eliminated, the swelling itself goes away.

How to quickly remove swelling of the face and under the eyes using cosmetics?

Serums and creams with a lifting effect can be used as products. Day creams with caffeine relieve swelling. And evening ones with amino acids and peptides regulate the amount of fluid in tissues, eliminating the possibility of swelling. In addition to folk remedies, try to correct the impression with makeup. Still, it is better to use professional cosmetics from, which will not only reduce swelling, but also help maintain the beauty and youth of the skin.

Diseases in which symptoms may be observed

Swelling of the upper eyelid is considered pathological when such a disorder is caused by some disease. Among these ailments, the most common are:

1. Blepharoconjunctivitis . A disease that combines conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye lining) and blepharitis (inflammation of the edge of the eyelid).
2. Hemophthalmos. Hemorrhage into the vitreous body, which occurs most often as a result of other eye diseases. This is a fairly rare disorder that affects blood vessels, including the part of the circulatory system located in the upper eyelid.
3. Conjunctivitis. The most common infectious or non-infectious lesion of the mucous eyes among all age groups. In such cases, the eyelids swell and take on a pronounced red color. Additional symptoms depend on the type of disease (allergic, bacterial, viral and others).
4. Trachoma. An infectious chronic disease caused by chlamydia. Often in the early stages of development, the symptoms of the disease are mild or completely absent, and swelling of the eyelids appears last.
5. Tuberculosis of the eye . An infectious disease caused by the tuberculosis bacillus. This pathology rarely develops independently and is mainly a complication of pulmonary tuberculosis.
6. Endophthalmitis. An inflammatory disease that spreads to the internal structures of the organs of vision. As a result, purulent discharge accumulates in the tissues of the eyes and in the glands located in the eyelids. With endophthalmitis, the patient's vision is significantly impaired, swelling appears well, and the eyelids thicken and acquire a pronounced red tint.

"Tobrex"

Tobrex drops are familiar to many people. This drug is used for swelling of the eyes, infectious and inflammatory pathologies, and infections of the visual organs. Ophthalmologists prescribe it for conjunctivitis, blepharitis, iridocyclitis, keratitis and other eye diseases. These drops are often used to prevent post-operative infections.

The main active ingredient of Tobrex is benzalkonium chloride. This is an effective antiseptic component that has antifungal and antimicrobial effects. In addition to benzalkonium chloride, the drug contains:

• boric acid;
• sodium chloride;
• sodium sulfate anhydrous;
• sodium hydroxide;
• tyloxapol;
• water.

The dosage regimen for the drug is determined by the ophthalmologist on an individual basis. The use of eye drops is often prohibited. This can lead to headache, asthenia, nausea, anemia and other side effects. The drug should be used with caution in case of kidney disease, pregnancy and lactation. "Tobrex" is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that belongs to the group of aminoglycosides. Eye drops are especially effective against gram-negative bacteria. The drug is available from pharmacies with a prescription. The estimated cost of eye drops is 180-200 rubles per bottle.

Why can the eyelid of only one eye swell?

Most ophthalmological pathologies (especially those caused by pathogenic microorganisms) are bilateral - both organs of vision are affected at once.

But swelling of the upper eyelid can sometimes appear only in the left or right eye. often occurs due to colds of infectious origin .

It is worth noting! This is also a characteristic sign of allergic dermatitis, which occurs when an allergen comes into direct contact with the skin.

Typically, swelling of one eye that occurs in the upper eyelid spreads further along the face, but it may not spread to the other half of the face.

The most common cause of unilateral swelling is injury or insect bites - that is, local damage that does not spread further along the surface.

Such swelling is always short-lived and, with first aid and symptomatic therapy, disappears within a few days.

Treatment depending on the causes

eyelid swelling symptomatically , trying only to eliminate this symptom.

Attention! It is necessary to accurately diagnose the cause of the development of such a disorder and deal with this problem - if adequate treatment is prescribed, the swelling will quickly go away without taking special measures.

Regardless of the disease, the doctor can prescribe external decongestants - creams or ointments, which in most cases can quickly eliminate the symptom.

But in addition to their application, you should follow a course that involves the use of certain medications for various pathologies.

For barley

Infrequently, the upper eyelid may swell with a stye (sometimes such an abscess appears above the eye, although most often it forms on the lower eyelid).
The most rational thing to do with such a disease is to wait until the abscess opens on its own.
But in addition warming can be used anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used throughout the entire treatment period .

It’s worse if the stye develops not from the outside, but from the inside of the eyelid - in this case, ointments are applied from its inside, which can cause painful and uncomfortable sensations.

Also in such cases, ophthalmic solutions are instilled (not only anti-inflammatory, but also disinfecting, since if the abscess is opened, its contents fall on the mucous membrane and can cause inflammation).

"Opatanol"

Effective drops for eyelid swelling - “Opatanol”. Most often, ophthalmologists prescribe them for allergic conjunctivitis. The drug is instilled 1 drop into the conjunctival sac of each eye 2 times a day. It is not recommended to use Opatanol more often. This leads to dizziness, nausea, and headache. Blurred vision is one of the side effects of the drug. Car enthusiasts need to take this into account.

The active ingredient of Opatanol is olopatadine. This is an antiallergic component that effectively eliminates inflammation and swelling of the eyes. In addition to olopatadine, the drug contains the following substances:

• benzalkonium chloride;
• disodium phosphate dodecahydrate;
• sodium hydroxide solution;
• sodium chloride;
• water.

The advantage of Opatanol is that the drops have almost no contraindications and are compatible with other topical medications. Opatanol is recommended for children after three years of age. You should only pay attention to the composition of the drug. The only contraindication for its use is hypersensitivity to the components of eye drops. In order to buy Opatanol you will need a prescription, which can be obtained from an ophthalmologist. The estimated price of the drug is 450-500 rubles.

Prevention

If we talk about non-pathological swelling under the eyes, you can avoid them or reduce the likelihood of their development as follows:

• follow the rules for wearing and storing contact lenses and promptly replace such products upon expiration;
• do not eat salty, spicy, fried foods before bed and drink less liquid;
• in the autumn-spring period, to strengthen the immune system, take vitamin complexes ;
• monitor the body's reaction to various potential allergens and exclude contact with them.

You should also be careful about your eye health and observe good personal hygiene.

Note! If you notice the first signs of ophthalmic diseases, you should immediately undergo examination by a specialist.

And people aged 35-40 years old need to undergo such checks regularly (at least once a year), since some pathological processes can go unnoticed in the initial stages.