Almost everyone is affected by puffy eyes at one point or another. Puffy eyes occur when blood vessels underneath the eye become engorged or when fluid collects in the under-eye cavities. In most cases, puffiness around the eyes is caused by lifestyle or environmental factors, and is no cause for concern. Unless your puffy eyes are hereditary, there are a variety of steps you can take to diminish swelling and puffiness.
Step 1
Determine why your eyes are swollen so you can apply the appropriate remedy. Look at your lifestyle: lack of sleep, drinking too much alcohol, and consuming high-sodium foods contribute to puffy eyes. Puffiness may also be due to allergies, crying, and, according to EyeCareSource.com, may even be due to fluctuating hormone levels, as with pregnant women.
Step 2
Apply a cold compress. Putting a cold compress on your eyes can reduce the swelling of blood vessels and soothe irritated eyes. MayoClinic.com advises placing a cold cloth over the eyes for several minutes to decrease swelling. According to Health Guidance, you can also use cold, damp tea bags, cool cucumber wedges, or slices of cold raw potatoes as compresses. Lie down, put the tea bags or vegetable slices over your eyes for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse your eyes with warm water. You can also purchase cold compresses in the drugstore. To reduce puffiness, EyeDoctorGuide.com recommends buying a gel-filled eye pack and placing it in the freezer for a few minutes before applying it to your eyes.
Step 3
Change your diet. High-sodium foods and drinking alcohol to excess make you retain water, which can collect under the eyes. Foods that are high in sodium include processed or prepared foods, canned soups, salted nuts and pretzels, potato chips and all kinds of junk food. Drinking several glasses of water daily can help reduce eye puffiness as well because when you drink plenty of water, your body retains less of it.
Step 4
Elevate your head while sleeping. MayoClinic.com notes that sleeping in a prone position can cause fluid to collect in the cavities underneath the eyes. If you don’t sleep with your head on a pillow, this may be the cause of your puffy eyes. Sleep with your head on one or two pillows when you go to bed. The elevation causes the fluid that would otherwise collect under your eyes to drain into your body.
Things You'll Need
- Cold compress (washcloth, tea bags, cucumber or potato slices)
- Gel-filled eye mask (optional)
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