Why do we wake up with swollen eyelids?

However, while eyelid swelling can be a bit scary, it’s usually nothing to worry about. Eyelid swelling is usually benign . In response to allergies or infections, cells in the eye launch a protective immune response that causes the thin tissue of the eye to swell.

It is interesting to know what is behind the inflammation of the eyes to control the swelling and prevent the problem from getting worse.

Causes

One of the main reasons for puffy eyes is aging. The skin under the eyes is very thin, which adds to any changes that may occur in the body as we age. Over time, the eyelid tissue can weaken. This can cause the fat in the upper eyelid to sag and rest on the lower eyelid.

However, there are many other reasons for puffy eyelids when you wake up.

Allergic reaction

Most of the time, swelling is the result of a mild allergic reaction to something in the environment. Exposure to substances such as pollen, dust, ragweed, grass, or pet dander can lead to inflammation in the eyes, which can cause swelling along with redness, itching, burning, or tearing. You’ll probably also notice other allergy symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, or a rash.

To fix that, we’ll be managing allergies to help keep inflammation levels down around the eyes, not to mention making us feel more comfortable overall. When the swelling appears, we will apply cold compresses and use artificial tears to keep the eyes hydrated. Oral antihistamines or antihistamine eye drops may also help.

And if possible, it is advised to remove the allergen from the environment. For example, sleeping with the windows closed when the pollen count is high is key to preventing symptoms in the first place.

Conjunctivitis

Mild eye infection can trigger inflammation, which may cause redness, itching, mucus or discharge, and some mild swelling.

Conjunctivitis usually starts in one eye, with symptoms of eye redness and some pain accompanied by a slight swelling of the eyelid. After a few days, similar symptoms will start in the other eye, although usually not to the same degree as experienced in the first.

Most cases of conjunctivitis are viral and will run their course in a few weeks. In the meantime, we can apply warm compresses and use artificial tears to ease the discomfort. If it continues for longer, we will go to an ophthalmologist, as it may be a more serious bacterial infection.

Insect bite

Mosquitoes do not discriminate between arms, legs or eyelids, so it is possible that one has bitten near the eye. Swollen eyelids upon waking are likely due to an insect bite if the swelling takes the form of a small bump that is red or pink and itchy but not painful.

Itching and swelling can be relieved by applying a cold compress. Although hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion is often recommended for insect bites, it’s best to skip them this time; it is not a good idea to place them near the eyes. If the inflammation does not go down in 24 hours, it is advisable to go to the doctor for the administration of corticosteroids.

Stye

Styes are painful, red, pus-filled bumps that form on the outside of the eyelid when the oil-producing glands around the eyelid become blocked and infected. Although they usually don’t cause swelling of the entire eye, the area around the stye may be slightly raised. So it’s normal to notice swollen eyelids when you have a stye, even a small one.

There are several home remedies for styes. For example, a warm compress can be applied to the eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes, three to five times a day, to reduce swelling. With clean fingers, we can also gently massage the area after applying the compress to help remove the blockage. The stye should never be popped or squeezed as this could cause the infection to spread.

shingles

Shingles is best known for causing a red, painful rash. But it’s not uncommon for infections to spread to the nerves inside the head and affect parts of the eye, causing swelling, pain, redness, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision.

We will seek medical attention immediately if we think we might have shingles affecting the eye. Antiviral medications are not a cure for the infection, but they can help it heal faster and reduce the chance of complications, including eye damage (scarring from a shingles rash can lead to blindness).

severe infection

Although rare, it is possible for an eye injury, insect bite, or stye to trigger a serious infection that causes very swollen, red, and painful eyelids. In some cases, bacterial or viral infections can also spread from nearby tissues or blood vessels to the upper or lower eyelid.

We will call an ophthalmologist right away if we have severe eye inflammation accompanied by pain or redness. Serious eye infections usually require oral antibiotics and even hospitalization.

When to see a doctor?

Waking up with a swollen eyelid is not usually an emergency. Most of the time, the swelling will go away with home measures in a day or two. However, medical attention should be sought if:

• The eyelid is very swollen, red, or painful. These are signs of an infection, and we should be treated with antibiotics as soon as possible.
• The swelling does not improve or worsens. We will go to an ophthalmologist if the inflammation of the eyelids does not improve with home remedies in one or two weeks, or if it worsens.
• We suspect it is anaphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction. It is usually characterized by intense and rapid swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue; difficulty breathing; dizziness or lightheadedness and nausea or vomiting.

remedies

There are many ways to help reduce puffiness around the eyes. Some remedies are simple, like drinking more water. Below we discuss the best treatments to get rid of puffy eyelids.

get enough sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep will help reduce puffy eyelids. Adults need around 7-9 hours of sleep a night. To make sure we’re getting enough sleep, we’ll create a bedtime routine.

It is important to remember that the bedtime routine begins long before we go to bed. To rest well at night we must:

• Create a sleep schedule.
• Stop drinking caffeine at least six hours before bed.
• Stop drinking alcohol close to bedtime.
• Finish dinner about three hours before going to bed.
• Finish exercising several hours before going to bed.
• Turn off electronic devices about two hours before going to bed.

built-in sleeping

It is advisable to sleep with a few pillows under your head to prevent fluid from accumulating around the eyes. If we can’t sleep at an angle on a wedge pillow or a stack of pillows, we’ll try raising the head of the bed a bit to achieve the same effect.

We can place a stack of books or another wedge under the foot of the bed on the side where we rest our heads. If we notice a difference in the frequency or intensity of eye swelling, we will consider a more stable solution such as bed risers.

control allergies

It is recommended to speak with a doctor if we have seasonal or year-round allergies. Allergies can cause the eyes to become red and inflamed. This can cause us to rub our eyes more, which will lead to more puffiness.

Your doctor can help create a treatment plan to relieve your symptoms. This may include eye drops and prescription or over-the-counter medications. However, it is not advisable to take medication without having a professional diagnosis. It is possible that it is not due to allergy swelling and we make an inappropriate decision.

drink enough water

Eye puffiness can be the result of dehydration. We will make sure to drink plenty of water every day to keep the skin healthy. The general rule of thumb is to drink eight glasses of water a day.

To keep up with the recommendation, we can set an hourly reminder on the phone. We can also use a refillable water bottle marked with specific times to help us drink enough water throughout the day.

avoid alcohol

We will try to limit or avoid alcohol and other beverages that can dehydrate us. Dehydration can lead to puffy eyes, so it’s best to drink a glass of water.

In case we are bored of drinking plain water, we can infuse it with fresh fruit, which is a great way to stay hydrated and fresh. We will try to add the fruit that we like the most to a bottle of water to obtain infused water that lasts all day. We can also take infusions, which will help reduce fluid retention.

limit salt

Eating too much salt can cause additional fluid retention in the body. It can also lead to other health problems, such as an increased risk of heart problems and strokes.

The recommended daily value for sodium is 2,300 milligrams. However, experts recommend limiting sodium to 1,500 mg per day. More than 70 percent of the sodium found in diets comes from processed or restaurant foods. To reduce salt intake, we will avoid cured meats, cheese, bread and other processed foods.

Prepackaged foods like instant soups are often high in sodium. Reading labels can help us identify excessive amounts of salt. Instead, it is advised to eat more whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.

eat more potassium

Potassium can help reduce excess fluid in the body, so we may want to increase our potassium intake. We can do this by adding bananas, legumes, yogurt, and green leafy vegetables to the diet.

If we’re already eating a high-potassium diet, we’ll talk to a doctor about whether our potassium level is okay or if we can safely add a potassium supplement to our daily routine.

Use a cold compress

We can reduce puffy eyelids upon waking by placing a cold cloth over the eyes for about 10 minutes. This can help drain excess fluid from under the eyes.

A compress of green or black tea bags can also help reduce inflammation. Tea contains antioxidants and caffeine that can reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels.

eye cream

There are many eye creams on the market that can relieve puffiness when you wake up each morning. Some ingredients to look for in an eye cream include chamomile, cucumber, and arnica. All of these contain properties that can reduce inflammation and tighten the skin.

Caffeinated eye creams and makeup can also help reduce eyelid puffiness. However, it does not seem to be necessary to spend too much money to achieve a better result in reducing inflammation.