Eye

Swelling under Eye, Cheekbone, With Pain, Redness, Causes, Treatment

By Yousef Emad

Posted on June 9, 2016

What causes under eye swelling? Get more insights on Swelling under eye or cheekbone, with pain and redness, causes as well as the treatments.

swollen under eye

Swelling under Eye Causes

The term known as puffy eyes usually is very interchangeable with the term swollen eyes. Swollen eyes is normally used to describe the immune response to the allergy, infection or even the injury, whereas puffy eyes is very likely used to refer to the external physical conditions of the swollen eyes from the water retention, lack of sleep or even the genetic traits like the dark circles under the eyes.

A swollen eyelid happens when there is an inflammation or the excess fluid in the connective tissues that is surrounding the eye. Swollen eyes may be painful and non-painful, and may affect both the upper and the lower eyelids.

There are several causes of a swelling under eye that includes an eye infections, eye injuries or trauma, and, most commonly also are the allergies.

Swelling of the eyelids may be a sign of a very serious and potentially sight-threatening health problem, such as the orbital cellulitis, Graves’ disease and ocular herpes.

It’s crucial that you visit the eye doctor for a thorough eye exam if the symptoms persist, worsen or even change.

Causes of Swollen Eyes

There are several causes of swollen eyelids that ranges from mild to a potentially sight-threatening conditions.

Allergies. Eye allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to the foreign substance, known as an allergen. Pollen, dust, certain eye drops and the contact lens solutions are some of the most common eye allergens. An allergic reaction to a makeup also is a culprit of the swelling under eye.

Eye allergies also develop when the eyes release chemical to protect the eyes from allergens to which you are very sensitive.

The most common form is histamine that causes blood vessels in the eyes to dilate and swell, mucous membranes to also itch and the eye to become red and more watery.

Conjunctivitis. Also known as the “pink eye,” it is an inflammation of the clear lining of the surface of the eye, known as the conjunctiva. Allergic, bacterial as well as the viral types of pink eye may all lead to swollen eyelids, among some other symptoms like the watery, red and itchy eyes.

Styes. Usually seen as a swollen, reddish bump on the edge of the eyelid, styes are brought about by the bacterial infection and the inflammation of a meibomian gland. When the oil-producing glands get blocked, the eyelid swelling is the typical symptom. A stye may lead to the whole eyelid to swell, and typically is tender to the touch.

Chalazion. A chalazion, also brought about by a blocked meibomian gland, at first looks like a stye but then changes into a hard sebaceous cyst. Another difference is that a stye occurs on the edge of an eyelid whereas the chalazion normally develops away from the eyelid edge. Both the styes and chalazia leads to swollen eyelids and tenderness of the affected area.

Eye injuries. Any of the trauma to the eye area, including the eyelid contusion (commonly called a black eye) and trauma brought about by the cosmetic surgery (blepharoplasty, or even the eyelid surgery), may trigger inflammation and the swollen eyes.

Symptoms of Swollen Eyes

swollen under eyes signs

Swelling under eye is a normal symptom of the underlying cause, like the allergy or infection. Swollen eyes normally are followed by one or more of the following:

Eye irritation, such as an itchy or scratchy sensation
Excess tear production, resulting in watering eyes
Obstructed vision
Redness of the eyelid
Red eyes and the inflammation of the conjunctiva
Eye discharge or mattering
Eyelid dryness or even the flaking
Pain, especially when swollen eyelids are brought about by infection

Why Do Eyes Swell After Crying?

The watery component in the eyes tears is produced in the lacrimal glands near the eye and are important for healthy eyes, thus keeping the eyes cleansed and lubricated.

Tears drain that run through the nasal cavity that explains a runny nose after any excess tear production.

There are only three types of tears:

Basal tears, that provide a constant film of tears to keep the eye moist.
Reflex tears that protect the eyes when they are exposed to irritants come into contact with a foreign body.
Emotional tears that are produced in response to a strong emotion.

With the emotional tears, the lacrimal glands are taken into overdrive, thus producing a continuous flow of the watery tears. The fine tissues that are around the eyes absorb some of the overflow of tears, leading to the eyes to become temporarily puffy and swollen.

In addition to this, the autonomic nervous system will therefore respond to the strong emotion, such as the urge to cry, by increasing of the blood flow to the face, further adding to the appearance of swollen eyes.

While having the swollen and even the puffy eyes after lengthy crying can be much unwanted telltale side effect, it’s not all bad the part: experts suggest that “having a good cry” can make you feel physically as well as emotionally better and that crying is the body’s way of doing away with the toxins caused during times of elevated stress.

Swelling Under One Eye

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid, usually brought about by the malfunctioning of the oil glands that are in the lid that empty near the base of the eyelashes.

Blepharitis is normally characterized by the swollen and the painful eyelid and may be accompanied by dandruff-like flaky type of eyelid skin and loss of eyelashes.

Blepharitis normally is a chronic condition, implying that symptoms may be controlled with proper treatment and hygiene practices, but it is not fully cured. It often is related to a bacterial infection, but also can be attributed to acne rosacea and dry eye syndrome.

Swelling under Left Eye

Angioedema is the swelling that is similar to hives but the swelling is under the skin instead of on the surface that usually affects the left eye or even the right eye.

Hives are often known as welts. They are a surface swelling under eye. It is also possible to have the angioedema without the hives.

Angioedema may be brought about by an allergic reaction. During this reaction, histamine as well as other chemicals are released into the bloodstream. The body releases the histamine when the immune system detects a foreign substance known as allergen.

In most of the cases, the cause of the angioedema has never been found.

The following may lead to angioedema:

Animal dander or the scales of shed skin
Exposure to water, cold or heat
Foods (such as berries, fish, eggs, and milk)
Insect bites
Medicines (drug allergy), such as the antibiotics (penicillin and sulfa drugs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and blood pressure medicines
Pollen

Hives and angioedema may also happen after infections or with other illnesses (including autoimmune disorders such as leukemia and lymphoma.

A form of angioedema runs in families and has different triggers, complications, and the treatments. This is known as hereditary angioedema.

The main symptom is the sudden swelling that occurs below the skin surface. Welts or even the swelling on the surface of the skin may also develop.

The swelling usually happens around the eyes and lips. It may also be found on the hands, feet, and throat. The swelling may form a line or be more spread out.

The welts are painful and can be itchy. This is known as hives. They turn pale and swell if irritated. The deeper swelling of angioedema may also be painful.

Redness and Swelling under Eye

swelling under eye with redness

Puffy red eyes are brought about by any number of issues that ranges from too little sleep to too much crying. Allergies, excessive salt consumption or even a variety of medical conditions may cause the unsightly bumps under the eyes that make a person look older.

When the common home remedies like the cold compresses and even the cucumber slices don’t alleviate the red swelling under eye, you should consult a physician to make sure you don’t have a more serious inflammatory disease that may lead to complications.

Most of the women are very familiar with the fluid retention, a phenomenon that happens most every month during the menstrual cycle. Fluctuating of the hormones, whether as a result of menses or even menopause, may lead to red puffy eyes.

Pregnant women whose hormones are in a constant state of flux often have puffy eyes for no good reason. Fluid retention, also known as edema, is common to most people who are sensitive to salt intake. Salt makes the body retain water and appear bloated in the sensitive skin areas like those around the eyes.

In addition to the swelling under eye and redness, when patients come in contact with an allergen, the eyes also can become watery and itchy. Eye allergies are the most common around, dust and pollen. According to the Eye Doctor Guide, about 20 percent of the population suffers from some level of eye allergies that leads to puffiness and redness.

Seasonal allergies strike basically when trees and grass starts to grow in the spring, while perennial allergies may be persistent all year from the animals and dust.

Swelling Under Eye with Pain

Orbital cellulitis is a rare but more serious bacterial infection of tissues that are surrounding the eye, resulting in the painful swelling under eye and possibly the eyebrow and the cheek. Other symptoms include bulging of the eyes, decreased vision, some fever, and eye pain when moving the eyes.

Orbital cellulitis is also a medical emergency and antibiotic treatment often is required to prevent optic nerve damage, permanent vision loss or even blindness and all other serious complications.

If the infection is much limited to the soft tissue of the eyelids, this is known as the pre-septal cellulitis, which is a bit less serious than the orbital cellulitis and often may be treated using the topical medication without any hospitalization.

However, sudden onset of the symptoms as mentioned should be considered a medical emergency until proven otherwise.

Symptoms of eye herpes can be similar to the pink eye, however they can be painful sores on the eyelid, blurry vision due to the cloudy cornea and swollen eyes which may be so extreme that it obstructs the vision.

Types of eye herpes may range from the mild infection to a more serious eye health problem that may lead to a corneal transplant or even loss of vision.

Swelling under Eye Treatment or How to Get Rid of It, Home Remedies

swollen under eye with pain

Here are the ways to get rid of the puffy eyes.

Water

The easiest way to get rid of swelling under eye is to drink enough water. When the body is perfectly hydrated, there is less chance of water retention that can lead to the under-eye area and other parts of the body to swell. Water also helps to flush toxins out of the body.

To stay well hydrated, drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. In addition, you must reduce the amount of salt that you eat to reduce water retention in the body. Also, avoid any caffeinated and carbonated beverages that may be dehydrating.

Cold Spoons

This simple home remedy is surprisingly very effective. It will help tighten up the skin around your eyes as well as relax the blood vessels, thus offering relief to the puffy and tired eyes.

Chill about 5 metal spoons in your refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes.
Hold the rounded portion of one of the cold spoons against your eye for a few minutes until the spoon becomes very warm.
As the spoon warms, replace it with another cold one from the refrigerator.

Tea Bags

Be it green tea bags or even the black tea bags, both may help to soothe the swelling under eye and even irritated eyes. They have anti-irritant properties that assists to reduce swelling around your eyes. They may also relieve the redness and inflammation.

Put 2 used tea bags in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Lie down and put the tea bags over your eyelids.
Leave them in place for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Repeat a few times a day.

Cucumbers

Chilled cucumbers make a perfect remedy for treating swelling under eye. The enzymes and the astringent properties in cucumbers help reduce inflammation and help tighten the skin. This remedy can also assist get rid of wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes.

Cut a cucumber into thick slices.
Chill the slices in the refrigerator for 1about 0 minutes.
Place the cold slices on your eyelids for 10 minutes until they become warm.
Repeat the process several times a day.

Egg Whites

Egg whites have skin-tightening properties that can help banish under-eye bags as well as help prevent wrinkles.

Separate the yolks from 2 eggs and put the whites in a bowl.
Whip the egg whites thoroughly until you get a stiff consistency.
Add a few drops of witch hazel, a natural skin-tightening astringent.
Use a brush or soft cloth to apply this mixture under your eyes and allow it to dry.
Leave it on for about 15 minutes.
Do this daily for a few days.

Potatoes

Just like cucumbers, potatoes are also effective in getting rid of swelling under eye. The starch present in potatoes has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce under-eye bags. This remedy is also helpful for fading dark circles under eyes.

Peel, wash and dry a medium-size potato.
Grate the potato and put the shavings in a clean cloth and tie it up.
Place this cloth over your eyelids for several minutes.
Repeat the process several times until the puffiness subsides.

Cold Water

If you have a sleepless night and are left with puffy eyes, cold water is just what you need to treat them. The cold will assist to constrict the blood vessels and lessen swelling under eye.

Rinse your face with several splashes of ice-cold water. Do this a few times throughout the day as needed.
You can also use a small bag filled with ice, wrap it in a washcloth and place it on your eyes. Repeat as necessary until the swelling is gone.

Salt Water

Hot water and salt also works as a simple remedy to help reduce swelling and puffiness under your eyes. The salt water help get rid of the fluid retention and assist to reduce swelling under eye in a way similar to osmosis.

Mix ½ teaspoon of salt in a bowl containing a quart (4 cups) of water. Make sure the water is not too hot.
Soak cotton balls or wool eye pads in this warm saline water and place them over your eyelids for a few minutes.
Repeat the process for 15 to 20 minutes.
Strawberries

The alpha hydroxyl acid present in strawberries can help make skin look smooth and young. It also helps reduce under-eye puffiness and swelling under eye.

Chill some strawberries in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Remove the tops and slice them into thick pieces.
Lie down and place the slices under your eyes for several minutes.

Aloe Vera

The antioxidants and vitamin E present in aloe vera are effective in reducing puffiness around the eyes and also keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay.

Applying aloe vera gel on the area under your eyes will improve blood circulation and flush out the fluids around the eyes, thus reducing swelling.

When applying the gel, you must be very careful that it does not get in your eyes. If you do not have pure aloe vera gel, you can use any skin care products that contain aloe vera gel or extracts.

Further references;