How To Treat A Swollen Eye From Allergies

Flush Irritants Away With Saline Drops Or Artificial Tears

Normal saline drops or artificial tears can be used to flush away irritants that can cause inflammation. While there are many DIYs to make saline drops at home, its critical that you do this in a sterile environment and ensure all utensils and ingredients are uncontaminated. You could also use simple store-bought ones instead. Also, clean your eyelids and the area around your eyes with a wet washcloth to remove any allergens if youve been outside.3

An Allergic Reaction That Causes The Eyes To Swell

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For many allergy sufferers, the first sign of an allergic reaction is an uncomfortable tight sensation around the eyes. This sensation results from swelling of both the upper and lower eyelids. The eyelids may also become reddened and begin to itch. A wide variety of allergies can produce this reaction.

How Is A Chalazion Treated

The mainstay of treatment for chalazion is the application of a warm, damp compress, typically a clean washcloth, for 10 to 15 minutes four to six times each day until the chalazion resolves. The warmth from the compress helps to loosen the oils that are clogging the duct. You can gently massage the area with the warm compress to assist in relieving the blockage. Because the eyelids are delicate, it is important to be gentle, and you should not try to force or drain the chalazion yourself. In rare cases, a chalazion that will not resolve on its own must be surgically removed. Surgical removal is usually performed from the inside of the eyelid to prevent a noticeable scar.

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Antihistamine Pills And Eye Drops

Antihistamine pills and liquids work by blocking histamine to relieve watery, itchy eyes. They include cetirizine , diphenhydramine , fexofenadine , or loratadine , among others. Some may cause drowsiness.

Antihistamine eye drops work well for itchy, watery eyes. You may need to use them several times a day, but donât use the over-the-counter kinds for more than 2-3 days. Prescription kinds include azelastine hydrochloride , cetirizine ophthalmic , emedastine difumarate , levocabastine , and olopatadine .

They are often combined with other kinds of drops, including some that shrink swollen blood vessels in your eye. You shouldnât use these kinds of drops, called or âget the red outâ drops, for more than a few days at a time. They can also lead to a rebound redness if used too frequently. Donât use them at all if you have glaucoma.

Over-the-counter antihistamines include ketotifen fumarate .

What Is A Chalazion

A chalazion is a blockage in a small duct in your eyelid that can result in a small bump and . Each of your eyelids has small glands called meibomian glands located near the eyelashes, which produce one of the oils that lubricates your eye. When these glands cannot release their oil because their duct is blocked, the oil backs up and causes a bump.

A chalazion is not the result of an infection, although it can follow an infection of the eye. An infection of these same small ducts is called a , which may resemble a chalazion but is usually quite painful and tender, while a chalazion is less painful. A chalazion can grow to the size of a marble in extreme circumstances.

A chalazion is typically mild and requires no special treatment other than the application of a warm, damp compress several times a day to help loosen the oil blocking the duct. If a chalazion grows too large or cannot be resolved with a compress, it may be surgically removed.

Seek prompt medical care if a bump on the eyelid remains for more than a month, if your vision is affected by the bump, or if the bump continues to grow despite treatment.

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Allergy Shots Are A Treatment Option

Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, are a series of injections to improve an individual’s tolerance to allergens. The treatment helps the immune system be less sensitized to allergens and it may help with eye allergies. At first, small amounts of the offending allergens are injected into an allergy sufferer. As treatment proceeds, increasing amounts of the allergens are injected. Treatment usually lasts several months. People who have severe allergies may be the most likely to benefit from allergy shots. The treatment may not provide complete relief and you may still need to rely on medications to keep your chronic allergy symptoms in check.

Have An Allergy Plan And Stick To It

The best way to avoid suffering from itchy, swollen eyes, watery eyes, and other allergy symptoms is to prevent symptoms before they start. Know your allergy triggers and do your best to avoid them. Do you feel better or worse during certain times of the year? Your doctor can perform allergy testing to identify which substances are irritants for you. You may need a combination of oral medications, nasal sprays, eye drops, and shots to control your eye allergy and allergic symptoms. Ask your doctor how best to control your chronic allergy symptoms and what to do if you have an allergic reaction.

Self-Care Tips

Ask whether home remedies, like applying a cool compress over itchy eyes, will help. Discuss plans for how to treat mild and more severe symptoms with the doctor. Ditch the contact lenses when itchy eyes flare up. Stick to glasses. Follow your doctor’s eye care instructions. Stash moisturizing eyedrops on hand at home and work to treat dry eyes when they occur. Protect your eye health by wearing sunglasses outside. You can manage diseases like eye allergies, asthma, eczema, and other conditions with the right plan.

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What Is The Prognosis Of Eye Allergies

The prognosis is favorable for most patients with eye allergies. Typically symptoms clear up quickly with OTC/home treatment or when the offending allergen is not present any more. Unfortunately the symptoms may reoccur depending on the cause of the eye allergy. Health complications are very rare, but medical attentions should be sought immediately for any pain or vision loss that occurs or for symptoms that do not resolve within 12 hours.

The Difference Between Eye Allergies And Pink Eye

Eye allergies are caused by a reaction to allergens in the air while pink eye is most often caused by bacterial infections and viruses. Allergies usually cause irritation in both eyes while pink eye often occurs in one and then spreads to the other. Unlike pink eye, eye allergies are not contagious and will last only as long as youre exposed to the allergen.

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Airborne Droplets Of Any Spray Products Bring Allergens To Your Eyelids

Ive seen eyelid dermatitis due to air fresheners , spray perfumes, hair spray, spray household cleaners, etc. If you can smell it, its in the air and it settles out on your eyelids, too.

Airborne pollen can cause eyelid dermatitis, too. That includes the usual pollens that also cause sneezing in allergic folks, but it also includes indoor flower arrangements with flowers like chrysanthemums and others. Wood burning smoke, inadvertently burned poison oak or ivy smoke, new carpet off-gassing, and sawdust have all had their turn as culprits in eyelid dermatitis in my office.

Chemicals washing over your eyelids bring allergens to your eyelid skin.

I usually see this from hair care products which are very taunting to delicate eyelid skin. Hair care products are some of the most chemically complex hygiene products that we have, and their ingredients can be more than your delicate eyelids can handle. These products are loaded with fragrance, foaming agents that dry out delicate skin to make it more porous, and strong preservative chemicals. As mentioned above, fragrances are common allergens. Preservatives are too, especially the formaldehyde-releasing preservatives commonly found in hair care products such as:

• Quaternium 15

What To Do If Its An Infection

An infection in the skin is called cellulitis. The skin around your eye will become red and may hurt. You will need antibiotics to relieve this swelling. Cellulitis usually affects the legs but can occur anywhere.

Symptoms that indicate the need for emergency treatment include:

• high temperature

• feeling that something is stuck inside your eye
• inability to move your eye muscle

Certain conditions that cause a swollen eye require medical attention. Cancers of the eye are rare but they may cause the eye to push forward, making it seem like the eyelid is swollen when it is actually pressure from the cancer.

Only a doctor can diagnose whats causing your eyelid to swell. But it may help if you can note any difference between:

• symptoms that came before or after
• presence or absence of pain
• an identifiable lump or general swelling
• inability to move your eye muscle or vision changes

Some people prefer to seek medical treatment immediately so they can get an accurate diagnosis and antibiotics. Always see a doctor if your cyst, blocked tear duct, or other cause of swelling does not clear up after a few weeks.

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What Are The Differences Between Eye Allergies And Pink Eye

The eyeball is covered by a thin membrane called the conjunctiva. When the conjunctiva becomes irritated or inflamed, conjunctivitis can occur.

Conjunctivitis is more commonly known as pink eye. It causes the eyes to become watery, itchy, and red or pink.

Although pink eye and eye allergies cause similar symptoms, theyre two distinct conditions.

Eye allergies are caused by an adverse immune reaction. Pink eye, however, is the result of eye allergies as well as other causes.

These include:

• smoke
• dust

Normally, the immune system promotes chemical changes in the body that help fight off harmful invaders, such as bacteria and viruses.

However, in people with allergies, the immune system mistakenly identifies an allergen, which may be otherwise harmless, as a dangerous intruder and begins to fight against it.

Histamine is released when the eyes come into contact with an allergen. This substance causes many uncomfortable symptoms, such as itchy and watery eyes. It can also cause a runny nose, sneezing, and coughing.

An eye allergy may happen at any time of year. However, its especially common during the spring, summer, and fall months when trees, grasses, and plants are in bloom.

Such reactions can also occur when a sensitive person comes into contact with an allergen and rubs their eyes. Food allergies may also cause eye allergy symptoms.

How Is Allergic Conjunctivitis Treated

Oftentimes with allergy symptoms, the best course of action is to simply avoid whatever triggers an allergic reactionfor instance, if you’re allergic to cats and you know your friend has a cat, suggest a meeting place outside their home so you don’t risk having an allergic reaction to their pet. The same goes for allergic conjunctivitis, Kanwaljit Brar, MD, an allergist at NYU Langone, tells Health. “The best approach is to be preventative,” Dr. Brar explains.

Experts advise making an appointment with an allergist if you find that you frequently suffer from allergic conjunctivitisif your eyelids start swelling and your eyes start watering at seemingly random timesand you have no clue what your allergen is. “If you see an allergist, you can identify what you’re allergic to we can predict when patients’ symptoms will ,” says Dr. Brar.

From there, an allergist can help you make simple lifestyle changes that eliminate allergic conjunctivitis and other allergy-related issues, says Dr. Hajee. So if your allergist tests you and determines that pollen is likely what’s triggering your symptoms, they can advise you to stay inside during certain times of the day when the pollen count in your region is highest, says Dr. Brar. By tweaking your routine by, say, going on your outdoor run at a different time when the pollen count is typically lower, your symptoms might lessen without the use of medication.

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Drink Oolong Tea To Ease Allergy Symptoms

Oolong tea, which is essentially tea thats been partially fermented, has been found to help relieve the symptoms of eye and nasal allergies. A Japanese study found that it reduced allergy symptoms like itchy eyes and tears even during a period when pollen count was high.10 Oolong tea can add to the effects of anti-allergy agents and even help you cut the use of these medicines. So sip on a cup of soothing tea to deal with that irritating allergy.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Chalazion

Symptoms of a chalazion include the formation of a small bump near the eyelashes on the eyelid. The bump may increase in size, and the entire eyelid may become tender. Swelling of the eyelid surrounding the chalazion is also common. Less commonly, a chalazion may get very large and require surgical removal.

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Apply A Cold Compress

Using an ice pack or a cold washcloth on the affected eye can help reduce eyelid swelling. The cold causes blood vessels to narrow, which limits the amount of blood and fluid reaching the area.

While applying cold items on a swollen eyelid can improve its condition, not everything in your freezer should be used.

Remember this item is going to be placed over your eye, so it should not be so cold or heavy that it causes additional discomfort.

If you have an ice pack filled with gel, its important to ensure there are no leaks in the pack, as the gel can contain chemicals that are dangerous to your eyes. Similarly, using frozen or raw meat to place on a swollen or black eye is a bad idea. The meat has the potential to cause a bacterial eye infection, which will only make matters worse.

The best option for a cold compress is a leak-proof sandwich bag filled with ice, but a bag of frozen peas or corn will also work. Whatever you use, it should be wrapped in a clean towel before placing it on your eyelid to avoid localized frostbite to the sensitive skin on your eyelid and around your eye.

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Questions For Diagnosing The Cause Of Eyelid Swelling

To diagnose the underlying cause of eyelid swelling, your primary care or may ask you several questions related to your symptoms:

• Describe the swelling. When did the swelling start? Does it come and go or is it constant?

• Did you eat any foods or come in contact with any unusual substances preceding the swelling?

• Are you experiencing any pain,shortness of breath, or other symptoms?

• Are any other areas swollen?

• How does the eyeball itself look?

• Provide your full medical history, including all medical conditions, surgeries and treatments, family history, and a complete list of the medications and dietary supplements that you take.

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Take A Break From Cosmetics

Cosmetics and facial cleansers that come close to the eyes could be causing irritation and swelling. If you suspect this is the problem, stop your current makeup or cleansing routine until swelling clears up.

If taking a break from a particular product helps, replace it with hypoallergenic or sensitive formulas. Aside from makeup and cleansers, hair products like hair sprays and gels could also cause irritation.

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What Causes Eye Allergies

Eye irritation from allergies can occur when allergens in the air, such as pollen, pet dander or dust, come into contact with the thin membrane that covers the eyeball. When this membrane, called the conjunctiva, becomes irritated, a substance called histamine is released. Histamine can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as swollen eyes from allergies.

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Nosh On Berries To Fight Histamine Release

A flavonoid called quercetin which is present in blueberries, bilberries, and blackberries and which gives them their trademark color can stop your body from producing and releasing histamine. One study even found that when people took a quercetin glycoside 4 weeks before pollen counts became high in the atmosphere, they experienced relief from symptoms such as itching and watering of the eyes caused by cedar pollen.12 So start snacking on yummy berries before pollen season gets here to beat your eye allergy.13

How Can You Prevent Eyelid Swelling

Preventing eyelid swelling depends on the cause.

• Allergies: For the most common cause of swollen eyelidsâallergiesâtaking allergy medicine daily will help prevent symptoms. Do not rub your eyes that will make swelling more likely. If eyelid swelling happens frequently, consider allergy testing to determine what you are allergic to. Once you identify the exact allergens, you can avoid them. Use hypoallergenic facial and makeup products. If you use eye drops for occasional redness and your eyes and eyelids become irritated, use preservative-free eye drops, as the preservative can irritate the eyes. You can purchase single-use artificial tears. Also, some people are allergic to contact lens material, especially silicone-containing lenses. Talk with your if you think your contacts may be the culprit.

• Infectious causes: Cleaning your eyelids twice a day with a mild cleanser can help prevent eyelid infections and swelling. If you wear eye makeup, do not share it with anyone. Treating eyelid conditions with at-home treatments and any medicines your doctor prescribes will help minimize eyelid swelling.

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