What to do when the upper eyelid is swollen and painful?

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Upper eyelid swelling and pain can be caused by seasonal allergies, makeup or too much sleep. However, swollen and painful eyelids can also be a warning sign of a serious health condition. Swollen eyelids can signal that you have some health problems and need treatment.

1. Causes of upper eyelid swelling and pain

1.1. Orbital cellulitis Orbital cellulitis is a bacterial infection deep in the tissues of the eyelids. The disease can spread quickly and is often painful for the sufferer. Orbital cellulitis requires diagnosis by an ophthalmologist and treatment with antibiotics. Depending on the severity of the infection, you may need intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
1.2. Herpes ophthalmic Herpes ophthalmic is an infection caused by the herpes virus in and around the eyes. Although anyone can get it, it is most common in children. Eye herpes can have symptoms similar to pinkeye but does not always cause obvious lesions.
To diagnose eye herpes, the doctor will order an eye specimen to culture for the virus. Although the Herpes virus remains in the body and there is no cure, antiviral medications can control the symptoms of the disease.

1.3. Blepharitis Some people may have more bacteria in and around the eyelids than others. These bacteria can cause an eye condition called blepharitis. Clinical signs of blepharitis can include greasy eyelashes and dandruff-like scabs around the eyelashes. Some people have blepharitis resulting in swollen and painful eyelids. Blepharitis is a chronic disease that cannot be completely cured. At the same time, the disease tends to progress seriously into severe episodes and then self-resolve. Preventive measures such as warm compresses, careful eye makeup removal, and eyelid scrubs can help. Sometimes, blepharitis leads to a more serious infection. If an episode of blepharitis is more severe than previous ones, or if you have severe pain, contact an eye specialist.
1.4. Blockage of the tear duct Blockage of the tear duct causes tears to be trapped, leading to swollen and painful eyelids. Infants and young children are the most susceptible to blocked tear ducts. These signs usually improve by 1 year of age.
In most cases blocked tear ducts are not harmful to health. You can apply heat, massage the baby to reduce swelling and help clear the tear duct. If your eyelids are swollen and painful, along with a fever, you should see your doctor right away.
1.5. Conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the back of the eyelid. Many causes can lead to this condition such as bacterial infections, viral infections, allergies, toxic reactions such as chemical burns in the eyes, parasites, fungi... At this time, in the eyes of the patient often red, swollen and painful eyelids.
In addition, other health conditions such as exhaustion, crying a lot, too much eye makeup, poor eye hygiene, allergies to skin care products... can also lead to swelling. eyelid.

1.6. Congenital causes In some cases, upper eyelid swelling and painless itching can also be congenital. Because of this, some children have swollen upper eyelids and this condition lasts until you grow up.
1.7. Due to the aging process The aging process, causing the eye skin to sag, the eyelid fat to appear more is also the cause of upper eyelid swelling and itching. In this case, the puffiness is too large, it will obscure the eyelid folds, causing the eyelids to droop.
1.8. Exhaustion Sometimes exhaustion is also what causes your upper eyelid swelling and itching. The fact that you work too hard or are often tired is easy to hurt your eyelids, especially in the morning. If you have swollen upper eyelids and itching caused by exhaustion, you can drink a glass of warm water in the morning and when you sleep, adjust the position will help reduce it.
1.9. Grave's disease This is an endocrine disorder that causes an overactive thyroid. The condition can also cause the thyroid gland to release cells to fight infections in the eye. The antibodies released during this process can be the cause of swollen and painful eyelids.
1.10. Orbital cellulitis Orbital cellulitis is a type of infection deep in the eyelid tissue. The bacteria can spread quickly and often cause a lot of pain. If your eyelids are swollen and painful, you should see a doctor and get treatment right away.
Cellulitis is a serious infection that requires antibiotic treatment. Depending on the severity of the disease, intravenous antibiotics may be required.

2. Treatment of swollen and painful eyelids

Most cases of swollen and painful eyelids can be treated with simple home remedies such as: cool compresses to reduce swollen eyelids red, need to keep eyes clean, avoid rubbing eyes or touching hands eye. At the same time, you should also avoid makeup on your eyelids and should wash your hands often to prevent the spread of infection.
However, if you experience sudden swelling and pain in your eyelids, the pain becomes severe, lasts for a while, changes in vision, or is accompanied by other symptoms, you should see your doctor. for an accurate diagnosis. It is important to identify the underlying cause of swollen and painful eyelids. The reason is that the doctor can prescribe the most effective way to treat eyelid swelling for each specific case. Some possible treatments are:
Antiallergic treatment: injections and prescription allergy medications; Antibiotic eye drops or oral antibiotics for bacterial eye infections; Use antiviral eye drops or ointments for herpes or shingles; Reduce inflammation with corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory eye drops; Perform procedures such as incision and drainage if styes, blisters, or abscesses are present; Removal of foreign body in eye or eyelid; In cases where the eyelids are swollen and painful due to insomnia or crying a lot, drinking water can also help reduce swelling. You should combine moderate rest or cold compress to speed up the healing effect of swollen eyes. In case the cause is due to other diseases, the doctor may prescribe some antibiotics and appropriate therapy to treat the cause.

3. How long does the upper eyelid swelling and itching take to go away?

Similar to the treatment of eyelid swelling, determining the recovery time also needs to depend on the cause of the eye swelling. For temporary causes like allergies or rubbing, it can take a few hours to relieve swollen and painful eyelids with home care or treatment with over-the-counter antihistamines.
Swollen and painful eyelids caused by mild infections or blocked oil glands can be relieved in 1 to 3 weeks with proper treatment. Skin infections like cellulitis take longer to treat and depend on how well they respond to antibiotics.
Swollen and painful eyelids caused by edema, temporary water retention after eating salty foods can be recovered within 24 hours if treated at home, by drinking more water and reducing salt intake. .
For more serious causes of eyelid swelling and pain such as organ failure, preeclampsia, thyroid disorders.

4. Notice when the eyelids are swollen and painful

When the cause of upper eyelid swelling and itching is caused by chalazion, stye, absolutely do not squeeze yourself because it can cause a more serious eye infection. The removal of pus if necessary should be prescribed by a specialist. If you have to wear makeup, you need to know how to properly remove makeup to limit the possibility of inflammation in the eyelids, which can easily cause upper eyelid swelling and itching. Whether you are sick or not, you should avoid rubbing your eyes. At the same time, you should wash your hands often to limit eye infections. For those who are often allergic, it is necessary to limit contact with dust, pet dander, pollen... In general, eyelid swelling. Upper and itch are not too dangerous and can be taken care of at home. However, sometimes it can have potentially dangerous health problems. Therefore, when you notice any abnormal signs, you should see an eye specialist as soon as possible.

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