Help! Swollen eyes a couple of times a month.

[Dr.Girlfriend]

At first I thought that I just had a reaction to some makeup, but my eyes will swell up (mainly my left) on and off again a few days a week. And I'm not talking a little puffy, it looks like Rocky punched me in the eye and it swells shut.

I woke up this morning and it happened again, and I'm beyond angry because I'm supposed to get together with a bunch of friends and I don't want to look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Sometimes when I do wear eye makeup (and it's just eye shadow that makes it do this when I do wear it, but it can happen when I'm not wearing any), my eye feels itchy on the top lid and then feels like there is a little blister or something. If I touch the top lid, it's actually a little wet. So I go around almost every day with my eyes slathered in Aquaphor.

Anyone else have this? I asked my dermatologist about it and she said to use something with hydrocortisone, but I can't now that I'm pregnant. It's sooooo irritating!!

 

[countingthedays]

First, I would NOT put hydrocortisone cream on your eye and I am shocked a doctor would even suggest you do that (unless they are supervising it). PLEASE, be very careful what you put around your eyes.

I get this too from time to time. My first thought was an allergy to your pillow - are you a left side sleeper? Can you change your pillow to a hypoallergenic one? Then as I read more, maybe it's an eczema outbreak? I think you need to see a dermotologist to find out what the root cause is.

As a fellow allergy sufferer, I feel for you. You can try putting cold cucumbers on your eyes to lessen the swelling and as strange as it seems, use dandaruff shampoo as a wash - it's medicated and soothing to the skin (you can get a sample size bottle at Walgreens for less than $1) is safe to use around your eyes and should help.



Good luck!

 

[isyne4u]

I have the same thing. The doctor gave me an excema medication. They gave me a liquid that I drip into my eyes and it gets the upper and lower lids just fine. MIne is called Prednisolone Acetate Opthalmic Suspension USP 1%. I use it on my eyes without any problems. I get the same itchy, blistery, swollen eyes.

Mine seems to come and go with allergy season. I use it two or three days in a row and then it goes a way for a few months.

Good luck!
tara

 

[MushyMushy]

I've started having a similar issue! My left eye, especially the underside, will swell up considerably. Then after the swelling has gone down, the skin is dry and flaky. It's driving me insane because it looks horrible and it really itches.

I've been meaning to see a doctor for it, but just haven't found the time.

Update us on what you find out. I'm very curious.

 

[Honu]

I have systemic allergic reactions that are inflamed by hormonal fluctuations. In other words, I'm allergic to myself. It only happens at 2 certain times of the month. Among the symptoms are swollen lips, swollen eyes, swollen tongue/throat and hives. I take Zyrtec and sometimes EpiPen, when it's severe. Sorry your puffy, OP.

 

[MELSMICE]

If there is what feels like a little blister or bump have an eye Dr. check to see if you are getting something called a chalazion.

My DD gets these frequently & her eye swells up something fierce. We've had numerous different situations with hers that I won't go into because I'd be typing for pages, but it's something you might want to check out.

BTW - they're nothing serious, just annoying.

 

[Cindyluwho]

It sounds like blepharitis to me. Itchy, swollen eyelids that can be red and flaky. Total PITA. I suffered from it once, years ago. But my DD14 gets it every 6 months or so. It can be caused by allergies or just thicker oil that can't get through the pores.
Both my Dr. and my opthomologist recommended scrubbing the eye with "eye scrubber pads", they're expensive but they work. They also say that Johnson's Baby shampoo on a rough washcloth will work as well. Do it at least twice a day until it clears up.
It's really common and not dangerous unless you get a secondary infection, but it's sure a pain!

From the Mayo clinic website:

Signs and symptoms of blepharitis include:

Watery or red eyes
A gritty, burning sensation in the eye
Itchy eyelids
Red, swollen eyelids
Flaking of the skin around the eyes
Crusted eyelashes upon awakening
Sensitivity to light
Frothy tears
Eyelashes that grow abnormally (misdirected eyelashes)
Loss of eyelashes
The eyelids may appear greasy and crusted with scales that cling to the lashes. This debris can cause the eyelids to stick together at night. You may have to pry your eyes open in the morning because of these sticky secretions. Sometimes you may notice only the presence of dried tear secretions in the morning that feel like small grains of sand.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

The swelling went down by yesterday afternoon but both of my eyelids(especially the left) are bright, bright red. It almost looks like I put lipstick on there

I've had this for years and it pops up once in awhile...but now that I'm pregnant it has come back with a vengance.

I do clean my eyelids every night with baby shampoo.

And yes, I mainly sleep on my left side. I've never thought about being allergic to the pillow...

 

[MerryPoppins]

It sounds like blepharitis to me. Itchy, swollen eyelids that can be red and flaky.

This is what it sounds like to me, as well. DS had it for the longest time before an eye doctor finally diagnosed him. We did the baby shampoo wash as a preventative. He also "soaked" his eyes for about 10 minutes every evening with moist heat. I'd wet a washcloth in really warm water (as hot as I thought he could stand, actually). He'd rest with the rag on his face, while I would read to him. It seemed to help a little.

When he'd have a flare we had ointment to put on the lid margins. It would clear it up really fast. Sorry, but I can't remember the name of the medicine.

 

[tink1978]

My friend has this same exact problem. It happens at least twice a month, and sometimes more than that. She has dubbed it, "Crazy Eye", because it comes from nowhere. She has been to multiple dermatologists, optometrists, etc and they do not know what it is. She has tried to figure out what she might be allergic too, but it is nothing she owns (she actually had allergy testing done to no avail). She now has an appointment with an ENT to see if it is somehow blocked sinuses (even though she can breathe freely with the "crazy eye"). I hope that some doctor can figure it out for you. I am sure that it is frustrating and a hassle to explain to people what happened.