Edema is a medical term used for build of fluid in the body cells and tissues. It can occur anywhere in the body. When edema develops around the eyes it is called periorbital edema. The area around eyes and eyelids get swollen due to many causes. It can be a local cause or a systemic reason. Local causes may be an infection around the eyes or an injury around the eyes. Systemic causes include kidney failure or liver failure etc.
The puffiness and swelling around the eyes in majority of cases does not disturb eyesight or vision.
What Are The Causes Of Acute Periorbital Edema?
Here are most common reasons that may cause puffiness and swelling around the eyes.
- Infection around the eyes. It can be a boil or acne or an infected insect bite.
- Allergic reaction from drugs, chemicals, pollen, dust etc.
- Too much crying can cause swelling and edema in periorbital region.
- Drinking excess of alcohol can cause dehydration.Excess of fluid can seep into the extracellular space. It can also give rise to swelling in the periorbital region.
- Fluid retention is common problem in kidney failure. Besides swelling in other parts of the body, edema also develops in the periobital region of the eye.
- Lack of sleep or people suffering from insomnia have periorbital edema as one of its common feature. Together with edema the area around eyes becomes black.
- Injury or a blow on the orbit or of face can produce edema in periorbital area.
- Patients suffering from heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, liver failure, hypothyroidism, Chagas disease all can cause swelling around the eyes due to collection of extracellular fluid.
- Certain other conditions such as a stye on the eyelids, injury to forehead, conjunctivitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, sinusitis etc all can cause puffiness and periorbital edema.
Treatment Options For Acute Periorbital Edema
Treatment of periorbital edema will depend on the underlying cause as well as the severity of the condition.
- Dietary changes: Patient may be advised to reduce intake of salt.
- Cold compresses: Often swelling around the eyelids occurs due to an injury, probably a blunt injury. Acute swelling of this type reduces if you start cold compresses as soon as possible.
- Patient has to stop drinking alcohol and quit smoking.
- Antibiotics are useful if perorbital edema is caused due to infection.
- Liver failure or heart failure or kidney failure need extensive medical therapy which is focused more towards improving the function of the organ. Once the function improves edema settles on its own. Some patient may be recommended to take diuretics to flush off excess of fluid from the body.
- In case of allergy due to insect bite or drugs corticosteroids and antihistamines are effective to normalize the swelling.
- Often placing a slice of cucumber over the eyes helps to reduce periorbital edema, especially if it is caused due to insomnia or excessive strain to the eyes from reading or watching movies or constant and long time use of computer.