For most of my pre-teen and teenage years, I have suffered from an eye infection. I would randomly wake up with a swollen eye, or sometimes both eyes and have to go to school looking like that.
I’ve always had to answer questions like, “Who beat you up like that?” or “Were you involved in a fight?” It would become tiring and painful to the point where I would choose to stay at home for like a week because sometimes that’s how long it would take for them to get back to normal.
I’ve used many different eye drops and eye cubes and I remember when I was still in primary school, a certain optometrist told me that my eye problems would go away once I reached 12 years. I don’t know what he meant because my eyes continued to swell up now and then until I finished high school.
So, what makes your eyes swollen without you doing anything to them, lets find out what experts have to say.
Allergies: The Avogel publication states that sleeping habits can cause puffy eyes due to allergies causing histamine production, inflammation, itching, and redness. “If you’re waking up with puffy eyes, you could be allergic to something in your bedroom. If you’ve recently bought new bed sheets, tried a new fabric softener or added an unfamiliar plant to your decor, keep in mind that any of these could be prompting a histamine response and causing your eyes to puff up.” Additionally, it is said that open windows can also trigger allergies from pollen and allergens.
Eye infections: According to Healthline, an eye infection can cause under-eye swelling in one or both eyes, often causing redness, swelling, and pus. Types of eye infections stated include pink eye, stye, chalazion, and posterior cellulitis. The infections are said to be often caused by bacteria and viruses.
Organ failure: The above publication also mentions that swollen eyes can be caused by a failing organ or a condition called oedema. “This includes heart, kidney, or liver failure.”
Too much salt consumption: Avogel mentions that another cause is having too much salt in your diet due to fluid retention and dehydration. “If your puffy eyes are a result of fluid retention and too much salt in your diet, they’ll tend to be worse in the morning. That’s because you don’t drink water overnight while you’re sleeping, so your body can become very dehydrated by morning.”
Not enough sleep: The online publication, Health, states that lack of sleep can cause under-eye swelling, droopy eyelids, red eyes, dark circles, pale skin, and a droopy mouth. It states that this weakens eye muscles and leads to collagen loss, causing fluid accumulation and swelling. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep daily.
Also see: How to protect your eyes from blue light
