How to deal with puffy eyes

What to do now

1. 1Remove contact lenses immediately if your eyes or eyelids are swollen.
2. 2Place a cool, water soaked washcloth over your closed eyes. Wrap an ice pack or frozen vegetables in a towel rather than putting them directly against your skin.
3. 3For puffiness after crying, leave the compress on for up to 10 minutes, removing it sooner if uncomfortable.
4. 4Stay upright afterwards. When you sleep, use extra pillows to raise your head comfortably, without sacrificing sleep to chase away swelling.

A cold washcloth is a valid option, even without the cucumber slices that make it look like a spa brochure.3

Is it puffiness, or an eyelid problem?

Temporary puffiness involves fluid collecting around the eyes, but a swollen eyelid can also reflect an allergy, infection or eyelid disorder. A small, red, painful bump can be a stye; a painless lump can be a chalazion. Red, itchy or burning eyelids with crusty lashes can occur with blepharitis, inflammation of the eyelids. These clues are reasons to get the cause checked, not to diagnose yourself.145

Avoid rubbing or scratching your eyes, which can cause more swelling. Gentle massage after crying sometimes helps, but touching the delicate eye area can also irritate it and worsen swelling. If you try massage, work lightly from the nose outwards and stop if irritation develops. A face roller should also move lightly outwards in one direction, not back and forth.16

What helps if puffiness keeps returning?

Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep and cut back on salty foods, which encourage water retention. If you suspect mascara, eyeshadow or eye cream is irritating the area, leave those products off for at least a couple of weeks to see whether symptoms improve. Antihistamine eye drops help allergy related swelling, not other causes. Use steroid eye drops only as prescribed.3

Eye creams containing caffeine or retinol sometimes improve the appearance of bags. A familiar eye cream is optional, so puffiness is not a shopping assignment. After crying, avoid testing a new product on the thin, sensitive eye area. Do not use hemorrhoid cream around your eyes: it can irritate or damage them.13

How long does puffiness take to settle?

After crying, swelling can ease within minutes or remain the next morning. Time is usually the main remedy; cold treatments help reduce the appearance rather than setting a deadline. If swelling lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours, arrange an eye care assessment.13

Persistent bags can come from inherited fat pad prominence, bone structure or loose skin, rather than temporary fluid alone. These can be difficult to fully correct without medical treatment. Shadows from hollows beneath the eyes can also make puffiness look more pronounced.36

When should you get medical help?

• Get urgent assessment for a red, hot, painful or tender swollen eyelid, pain inside the eye, light sensitivity, vision changes, fever, or difficulty opening your eye.
• Get urgent help if you cannot close your eye completely, or swelling comes with difficulty breathing or fainting.
• A red, painful eye while wearing contact lenses is an eye emergency.
• Contact a healthcare provider for swelling under just one eye. For persistent eyelid symptoms without urgent warning signs, a pharmacist, doctor or optician can help identify the cause and appropriate treatment.