Airborne allergens such as pollen and pet dander may affect your eyes. Products such as eyedrops or cosmetics also may produce an allergic response in your eyes. If you experience a reaction to environmental factors or chemical products, your eyelids may feel heavy, as though you cannot keep them open. Understanding eye allergies and accompanying symptoms may help you treat or prevent flare-ups in the future.
Symptoms
Your eyelids may feel heavy as a result of swelling, and simply closing your eyes may provide relief. Heaviness also may occur from irritation on the surface of the eyes that makes you feel as if you want to close them. In addition to eyelid symptoms, you may experience itching, tearing and redness on the surface of your eyes or have a thick discharge from your eyes.
Cool Compress
To help relieve the heaviness of your eyelids, try holding a cool compress against your eyelids. A clean, damp washcloth works well. Use the compress periodically throughout the day. The coolness will help ease swelling and discomfort, which may relieve the heaviness you feel in your lids.
Other Treatment
Dryness and irritation on the surface of the eyes may result in that heavy feeling, and over-the-counter artificial tears can help. Keep the eyedrops in your refrigerator, and the cool drop hitting the surface of your eye can have an additional soothing effect.
You may need allergy medications in eyedrop or oral form to help relieve your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter product or prescribe a medication. The medication can help resolve your symptoms; your doctor also may recommend using the eye drops or oral medication prior to coming in contact with a particular allergen. Prevention works well for seasonal allergies.
Considerations
If you have eyelid symptoms or other signs of eye allergies, contact your doctor. She can help you determine if allergies caused your symptoms or if you have an eye condition such as an infection. Inform your doctor if you do not have improvement in your symptoms since this may indicate that you require a stronger medication or have a more serious condition.
