Swollen eyelids? this is the cause and how to fix it

You may panic when you see sudden swelling of your eyelids. In fact, you didn't just cry. These conditions generally heal quickly, but sometimes it may take longer. The speed with which this recovery depends on what is causing the eye to swell. So what causes swollen eyelids? Can it be treated so that it gets better soon?

Causes of swollen eyelids

Sometimes, swollen eyes can interfere with your activities. Swelling can appear on the side of the eye or both.

Here are some conditions that can cause eye swelling, ranging from mild to severe:

1. Eye allergies

If your swollen eyes are accompanied by symptoms such as watery and red eyes, it could be because you are allergic to something. Allergies can be caused by dust, wind, or pollen hitting the eyes.

Eye allergies not only cause swelling, but are sometimes accompanied by other symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy eyes.

2. Bintitan

You may often encounter the phenomenon of staining around you. A stye or stye is a swollen lump that appears at the corner of your lid, the middle of your lid, or even the lower lid of your eye. These lumps are usually filled with pus resembling pimples and are painful to the touch.

The stye is caused by a bacterial infection staphylococcus which attacks the oil glands in the eyelids. Apart from the swelling of the lids, your eyes will be reddened over time.

Fortunately, stye is a condition that usually clears up on its own within a few days or a week.

3. Kalazion

Kalazion is a swelling of the eyelid that resembles a stye. However, usually the size of the swelling at the kalazion is slightly larger and feels soft to the touch.

In addition, if the stye is painful to the touch, kalazion is usually painless. Kalazion is also caused by blockage of the oil glands in the eyelids, causing swelling.

4.Eye infection (conjunctivitis)

An eye infection, also known as conjunctivitis, causes swelling and redness of the lid and the white part (sclera) of your eye. Not only is it swollen, the infection can also cause pain.

Conjunctivitis is generally caused by a viral or bacterial infection, such as staphylococcus, streptococcus, even the influenza virus. Therefore, conjunctivitis is a contagious infection.

5. Blefaritis

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. This condition is common in people with oily skin, dandruff, or rosacea.

Blefaritis can cause symptoms such as red, swollen eyes, a burning sensation, and pain.

Similar to stye and kalazion, blepharitis is also caused by the presence of bacteria. The difference is, these bacteria usually develop at the base of the eyelashes, causing flakes that resemble dandruff.

6. Orbital cellulitis

Reporting from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, orbital cellulitis is an infection that attacks the orbital septum, a thin tissue that separates the eyelids and eye bags.

Symptoms caused by orbital cellulitis include eye swelling, redness, and pain. Swelling can usually appear on the upper or lower eyelids.

This condition requires immediate medical attention because it is classified as a quite serious infection.

7. Graves' disease

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system turns to attack the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck. As a result, this disease causes goiter-like symptoms, namely swelling in the neck.

However, Graves' disease did not only affect the neck. The immune system can also attack the muscles and fatty tissue around the eyes, causing them to swell.

Apart from swelling of the eye, this disease can also cause inflammation that increases pressure on the eyeball. The swelling and inflammation that occurs also weakens the function of the muscles that drive the eyes, called extraocular muscles. Symptoms such as double vision and bulging eyeballs can also occur.

8. Eye cancer

Although it is very rare, eye swelling can be a symptom of eye cancer.

If the swelling is really caused by cancer, you may also experience other symptoms, such as decreased vision, blurred vision, and the presence offloateror patches that seem to follow wherever you look.

How do you deal with swollen eyes?

To get rid of a swollen eye condition, treatment will depend on the cause. Therefore, sometimes the way to overcome it can be different.

Here are various steps you can take to treat eye swelling:

• Rinse with clean water. This is especially important if the swelling is accompanied by symptoms of runny or watery eyes. Instead, use cold water to rinse.
• Compress your eyes. Use a towel dampened with water to compress your eyes.
• Use eye drops. You can use eye drops containing an antihistamine if the swelling is caused by an allergy. Avoid using drops containing steroids without a prescription and doctor's recommendation.
• Remove contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, remove them as soon as possible if swelling develops on your eyelids.
• Sleep in a good position. When sleeping, elevate your head so that no water builds up around the eyes.

If swollen eyelids are accompanied by painful symptoms, it could be an infection. Treatment due to infection will be carried out depending on the type of infection experienced.

Swelling of the eyes to watch out for is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Blurry vision
• Seeing white patches (floaters)
• There is a feeling of lump in the eye

Therefore, you should immediately consult a doctor in order to maintain the health of your eyes. In addition, try to stay away from things that can irritate your eye area, such as makeup and frequently to wash your face with a special soap for washing your face.