How long does swollen eyelids last for

However, it is a symptom. Eye cancer, or an eye lymphoma, is also accompanied by blurred vision or loss of vision. You may also see floaters — spots or squiggles — slowly moving in your field of vision. Most swelling around the eyes goes away within a few days. Here are a few tips to help reduce swelling in the meantime:. Call your eye doctor right away if swelling lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours and you notice any of the following:.

Singh says. If you are under the age of 40, Dr. Singh recommends seeing an eye doctor every four or five years. After age 40, see your eye doctor every two or three years. Anyone who is age 50 or older should visit their eye doctor once a year, she says. Do you wonder why your eyes are irritated and your eyelids are swollen? Here are eight things that could cause that — and tips to make it go away.

Learn more about vaccine availability. They are often puffy, pink-red, and a little swollen, particularly along the lid edges. Blepharitis can be a troublesome and recurring condition, sometimes associated with other skin conditions such as rosacea and seborrhoeic dermatitis. Find out more about blepharitis.

Conjunctivitis is inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, which is the smooth, shiny, translucent membrane that covers the white of the eye sclera and the underside of the eyelids. It can be caused by allergies and sensitivities for example, to products put on to the eye , or by infection. The main symptoms of conjunctivitis are redness of the eye, and a feeling of grittiness and mild soreness. As conjunctivitis affects the underside of the eyelids, it can make the eyelids puffy and a little red, either because the infection spreads into the eyelid or because the eyelid becomes inflamed or reacts in an allergic manner due to the infection.

See the separate leaflets called Allergic Conjunctivitis and Infective Conjunctivitis. Any infection in the skin of the eyelid will tend to cause marked swelling, with redness, itching and soreness.

Infection can also spread to the eyelids from other parts of the face. Infections of the skin include cellulitis , impetigo and erysipelas , which are different types of skin infection affecting different levels of the skin.

You are more likely to develop a skin infection if the integrity of your skin is broken for some reason. This might include an insect bite, an injury, or another condition affecting the skin close to the eye, such as eczema , chickenpox or shingles. Sinusitis is usually caused by bacterial or viral infection, although it may also be caused by allergy.

Sinusitis affecting the sinuses just beneath the eyes can cause puffiness around the eyes, affecting the eyelids. The eyelids are not usually red, sore or itchy. See the separate leaflet called Sinusitis.

Allergies occur when your body reacts to a foreign substance called an allergen by producing chemicals which cause swelling, redness and itching. In the eyelid the swelling caused by allergic reaction can be quite dramatic, since the eyelid tissue is stretchy and also tends to be quite 'reactive' to allergic stimuli.

Eyelids can react in an allergic manner to various triggers, including:. Allergic eyelid swelling is often therefore quite dramatic. The eyelids can feel tight and may even be so swollen that you can't open your eyes. Over time the extra fluid in the eyelids tends to drop downwards through the action of gravity to fill the area of the lower lid down to the top of the cheek, causing large 'bags' under the eyes. This is a skin reaction, usually an allergic one, that tends to cause marked skin swelling, sometimes with itching.

Mostly, it affects the eyelids and face - less often, the lining of the windpipe which can make breathing difficult and the hands and feet. Angio-oedema is often allergic. Usually the allergy is to something you have eaten, to medication, to something injected into the skin usually an insect sting , or to something you have touched such as latex.

It can sometimes be non-allergic, and be triggered by extremes of temperature, or by infections. Rarely, it can be an inherited condition. See the separate leaflet called Angio-oedema. Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is a medical emergency. It is an extreme and generalised allergic reaction affecting most of your bodily systems.

It can include dramatic eyelid swelling, which can be an early warning sign although it is not the most important symptom. Anaphylaxis can cause faintness, breathing difficulties and collapse, and anaphylaxis tends to come on quickly, the full effects sometimes developing over a few minutes and usually within an hour of symptoms beginning.

Occasionally, anaphylactic reactions to food can come on more than an hour after eating the food, but this is not the usual pattern. If you have marked eyelid swelling but have no other obvious developing symptoms, you are unlikely to be developing anaphylaxis.

See the separate leaflet called Anaphylaxis. The eyelids can become puffy, swollen and red just because they are irritated by grit, dust or bonfire or cigarette smoke, without a true allergic reaction. Your eyes will usually be red and watery too. Sunburn of the eyelids happens easily, particularly if you fall asleep lying in the sun. Injury near the eye. Can cause a bruise and swelling. A minor infection of an eyelash. An infection of the tear sac in the corner of the eye. Ethmoid Sinus Infection serious.

This causes swelling and redness of the eyelid. The ethmoid sinus is behind the eye. Periorbital Cellulitis serious. A bacterial infection of the eyelid. Caused by spread from nearby infected wound or insect bite. The eyelid is very red and usually painful to touch. Itchy pink eyes from pollen or pet dander. Viral Conjunctivitis.

The main symptom is red eyes with a cold. Bacterial Conjunctivitis. The main symptom is yellow pus in the eye or eyes. Eyelids may be matted shut. Edema serious. Edema is retained fluid within body tissues. Edema fluid first appears as swelling of the feet due to gravity. Edema fluid also occurs around both eyes after lying down. It's caused by kidney, heart or liver failure. Anaphylaxis very serious. A severe life-threatening allergic reaction.

Triggered by foods, drugs and bee stings.