The skin around the eyes is extremely thin and delicate, making it prone to swelling and puffiness without a clear reason, and it usually resolves without needing specific treatment.
According to the family magazine service of Saed News, citing Hamshahri Online, the tear duct in the eyes is responsible for draining tears and natural eye fluid. If it gets blocked, the fluid accumulates, leading to swelling. Although this issue is more common in infants, it can also affect children and adults.
The main causes of tear duct blockage are infections, various cosmetic products, or eye injuries, which typically resolve within a few days. You can help alleviate the blockage using warm compresses and sterile saline eye washes unless the blockage is due to more serious issues like a tumor.
Excessive tearing or watery eyes
Blurred vision
Redness in the eyes
Eye infection or inflammation
Pain
Swelling
Crust formation
Eye Injuries
Sometimes, cosmetic brushes or nails can cause a small scratch or cut around the eye. As the delicate skin around the eye heals, swelling and puffiness can occur. Trauma to the eye or its surroundings can also cause puffiness because the eye moves slightly downward upon impact and then returns to its position, causing blood to rush to the area and leading to swelling or bruising under the eye.
Allergies cause fluid to accumulate in the sinuses and around the eyes, leading to puffiness. Allergic reactions can also cause redness, itching, and watery eyes. Common allergens include chemicals, perfumes, pollution, dust, and pollen.
To clear your sinuses in such cases, you can use a sinus rinse and artificial tear drops for eye washing. Over-the-counter medications that may help include:
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Eye drops
Eye Infections
An infection in one or both eyes can cause swelling. While swelling from an infection usually affects one eye, it can quickly spread to the other eye. If this happens, avoid touching or rubbing your eyes for about a week until the infection clears. Common eye infections that can cause puffiness include:
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Caused by bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and other irritants at any age.
Stye: An infection in the eyelash follicle or tear glands that appears as a small bump along the lash line, causing redness, swelling, and pus in the eye or eyelid.
Chalazion: Similar to a stye, caused by blocked oil glands in the eyelid, appearing as a small bump on the eyelid.
Periorbital Cellulitis: An infection and inflammation caused by sinus issues or eyelid injuries, often requiring medical attention.
Swelling and puffiness around the eyes are not always signs of illness and can occur due to excessive crying. Crying causes fluid to accumulate around the eyes, and the resulting swelling usually resolves on its own.
High sodium levels in the body attract water, leading to puffiness in the face and body. Since the skin around the eyes is incredibly thin, it is more prone to puffiness. This swelling usually subsides naturally within a few hours.
To reduce under-eye swelling, limit salt intake in your diet, reduce processed food consumption, and drink water to flush out excess sodium. Additionally, consuming potassium-rich foods like bananas, yogurt, potatoes, and dried apricots can counteract the effects of excess salt.
Studies show that insufficient sleep can lead to eye puffiness, drooping eyelids, redness, and dark circles. Lack of sleep weakens the muscles around the eyes and leads to collagen loss under the eyes, causing fluid accumulation and resulting in swelling. This swelling can last from a few hours to 24 hours, and irregular sleep patterns can eventually cause permanent issues.
Smoking cigarettes, hookahs, and cigars increases the likelihood of eye irritation. Even if you don't smoke but are exposed to secondhand smoke, the risk of allergic reactions increases, leading to watery and swollen eyes. To prevent this, avoid smoking and clean your home and car if you are sensitive to smoke residue.
If the swelling around your eyes lasts more than 1 to 2 days, seek medical attention. Although most eye infections clear up without treatment, serious cases can cause long-term complications if left untreated.
Seek medical help immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms along with puffiness:
Blurred vision
Fever
Hallucinations
Vision loss
Severe pain or pressure
White discharge or pus
Understanding what causes eye puffiness helps you take the necessary steps to improve your health. Sometimes, this condition is simply due to excessive salt intake or lack of sleep, so adopting a healthy lifestyle can easily resolve the problem.
