What Causes Swelling Under The Eyes?

Hello. You kindly consult an opthalmologist and get evaluated. Puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes occur for many reasons, including inherited facial features, allergies, stress, eye fatigue and individual skin characteristics such as texture. While certain home remedies such as soothing cucumber slices — or even anti-hemorrhoid creams such as Preparation H — may temporarily relieve puffy eyes, a more long-lasting solution depends on the underlying cause. Ordinary swelling around the eyes means you have an excessive accumulation of fluids, called edema, in surrounding skin tissue. Because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin in the body, swelling and discoloration can be quite prominent. Puffy eyes generally result from a variety of factors, including: 1. Overconsumption of salt, which causes fluid retention 2. Allergies that can cause inflammation and swelling 3. Sinus problems 4.Dehydration 5. Fatigue and lack of sleep 6. Stress 7. Crying 8. Aging While the last answer isn t very satisfying, it s true that many people have puffy eyes because this trait simply runs in the family. With aging, eye puffiness can be caused in part when fatty tissue that ordinarily protects the eye inside the bony eye socket begins to push forward and fill in spaces below the eye. This happens because aging processes cause thinning of the membrane or septum that ordinarily holds back fat in both the upper and lower eyelids. As the membrane thins, the fat herniates and pushes forward. This is when bags or bulges start forming under the eye. Particularly when they occur unexpectedly, swollen eyes sometimes signal an underlying medical problem. For example, people with thyroid eye disease can develop swelling of tissue and muscles around their eyes. Also, bulging eyes can signal a thyroid disorder known as Graves disease. Eye allergies related to conditions such as hay fever also can produce swollen eyes. Other types of allergies, such as reactions to certain foods or chemicals, can cause swollen eyelids. During an allergic reaction, certain cells in the body release a chemical called histamine that has many adverse effects on body tissues, including fluid leakage from the blood vessels. These fluids become trapped in surrounding tissues, causing edema. Puffy, swollen eyelids and dark circles under the eyes can occur when you have an eye infection such as pink eye. These swollen eyes are caused by inflammation associated with the eye infection, which directly affects the neighboring eyelids. Also, dry eyes can cause general puffiness and swelling. Systemic diseases including kidney failure also can lead to general swelling throughout the body, including around the eyes. regards- Dr Sanjay Kini