Remedies for puffy eyes

What is causing the puffiness?

Puffiness can come from fluid collecting around the eyes, allergies, an injury or an infection. Itching, watering and redness can accompany allergies; discharge and pain can accompany infection. A distinct eyelid lump can be a stye or a chalazion, a blocked eyelid gland. These clues help you describe the problem to a pharmacist or eye professional, rather than diagnose it yourself.23

How to use a cool compress

A clean washcloth works as a cold compress, so the remedy does not need its own charging cable, which is disappointing news for the eye gadget department. Cooling helps narrow blood vessels and reduce swelling.14

1. 1Wash your hands before touching the eye area.
2. 2Soak a clean washcloth in cold water and wring it out.
3. 3Lie down and place the cloth over your closed eyes for a few minutes.
4. 4If using an ice pack or frozen vegetables instead, wrap them in a towel to protect your skin.

If an eye could be infected, use a separate compress for each eye and use each compress only once. Avoid heat for itchy eyes because it can make itching worse. Cooling can soothe symptoms, but an infection still needs the right assessment and treatment.5

What helps prevent morning puffiness?

Get at least seven hours of sleep each night and try raising your head with extra pillows. Elevating your head helps prevent fluid collecting under your eyes overnight, which gives the extra pillows a role beyond bed decoration. Avoid rubbing or scratching your eyes, which can contribute to swelling and broken blood vessels.6

Limit salty foods if puffiness is a recurring problem: salt makes the body retain water. Smoking also contributes to collagen loss and thinner skin around the eyes. These changes address contributors to eye bags rather than simply cooling swelling after it appears.1

What if your eyes are itchy and watery?

If allergies are responsible, avoid the trigger where possible. Pollen, dust, mould and animal dander are common triggers. A pharmacist or doctor can help you choose antihistamine tablets, eye drops or a nasal spray. Regular allergy treatment can help prevent swelling from returning, rather than treating each episode separately.2

Sunglasses outside can reduce the amount of airborne pollen reaching your eyes. If avoiding triggers is not enough, ask a pharmacist or optometrist which drops suit your symptoms. Different eye drops have different purposes; steroid eye drops should be used only as prescribed because inappropriate use can damage eyesight.14

Does an eyelid lump need warmth instead?

A stye or chalazion needs a different approach from general puffiness. For these eyelid lumps, use a clean cloth soaked in warm water and gently hold it against the closed eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes, four times a day. Ask a pharmacist or eye professional about an unexplained lump before assuming it is a stye.2

Can eye creams help?

Eye creams containing caffeine or retinol can sometimes improve the appearance of bags. If swelling seems linked to mascara, eyeshadow or an eye cream, stop those products for at least a couple of weeks to see whether symptoms improve. Fragrances, dyes and preservatives can irritate the eye area or trigger an allergic skin reaction.1

Do not use hemorrhoid cream around your eyes. Its ingredients can cause burning, irritation and other harm. Keep food, herbs, breast milk and urine out of your eyes too: these are not appropriate home treatments and can worsen irritation or introduce infection. For pink eye, avoid drops marketed to reduce redness, which can worsen symptoms.15

What if there is discharge or crusting?

Gently clean discharge with a fresh cotton wool pad soaked in clean water. Wipe from the corner nearest your nose outwards, using a new pad for each eye. Wash your hands before and after, and do not share towels, washcloths or makeup. Remove contact lenses and leave them out until symptoms have gone; seek prompt eye care if symptoms do not improve after removal.4

Artificial tears can soothe irritation associated with pink eye, also called conjunctivitis. Antibiotics treat bacterial infection, not viral pink eye. Viral pink eye typically clears in five to seven days; comfort measures do not make it disappear overnight. Thick yellow or green discharge, persistent crusting or worsening symptoms need medical assessment rather than another cosmetic remedy.5

What if the bags never fully disappear?

Dark circles describe colour rather than swelling. Thinning skin and hollows beneath the eyes can create darkness or shadows. Cold compresses help puffy eyelids, but persistent colour changes and hollows can require a different cosmetic approach. Call a healthcare provider if darkness or swelling appears under just one eye.6

Inherited bags can reflect prominent fat pads, bone structure or loose skin. They can be difficult to fully correct without medical treatment. Options include fillers, laser resurfacing and eyelid surgery, depending on the cause.1

When should you get medical help?

Seek urgent medical or eye care if:

• Your eyesight changes, or light becomes unusually uncomfortable.
• The swollen eyelid is red, hot, painful, tender or blistered.
• You have pain inside the eye, a very red eye, or cannot open or keep the eye open.
• Your eyelid suddenly droops.
• Eye symptoms come with a headache, nausea, vomiting, a high temperature or feeling generally unwell.
• A newborn under one month old has a sticky, red eye.

Seek immediate assessment after chemicals enter an eye or after something enters it during drilling, cutting or grinding. For otherwise mild swelling, arrange an eye examination if it lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours. A pharmacist can help with common eyelid problems and decide whether you need an optician or doctor.123