Swollen Eyeball

The eye, which is the organ of vision, is one of the five sense organs of the human body. Our eyes help us see the world around us. The eyeball is the round-shaped capsule that is surrounded by the eye socket. The upper and lower eyelids are folds of skin that cover the eyes. The eyelids help in moistening the surface of the eyes by spreading the secretions from the lacrimal glands. These also help in protecting the eyes from irritants. Since eyes are extremely delicate, injury or trauma can give rise to distressing symptoms.

Our eyes can easily get affected on being exposed to environmental irritants such as chemical fumes, sand and dust. Redness, pain, dryness, tearing of the eyes, eye discharge and increased sensitivity to light are some of the common symptoms of eye conditions. At times, excessive strain on the eye or lack of sleep can also cause irritation or puffiness around your eyelids or eyeball. Since distressing symptoms might be caused due to inflammation or an infection, one must immediately consult an ophthalmologist on experiencing such symptoms.

What Causes the Eyeball to Swell Up?

Why do some people wake up with puffy eyes? One of the most common reasons is sleep deprivation. If you are not getting enough sleep, you might end up with puffy eyelids. Inflammation may also give rise to swelling. Eye infections such as conjunctivitis or blepharitis can also cause sore eyeball. Allergies of the eyes could also be responsible for this condition. One might end up with swollen eyes or swollen eyelids on coming in contact with a substance one might be allergic to. Pet dander, pollen, dust and chemical fumes are some of the common allergens.

Corneal swelling could occur due to dry eyes, injury or other infections. Since misuse of contact lenses is often a contributory factor for corneal abrasions or corneal ulceration, those who wear contact lenses on a daily basis need to be very careful. They must always wash their hands before putting on contact lenses and removing them. Never rub your eyes vigorously, especially while wearing contact lenses. Women must make sure that they use good-quality eye makeup products.

Fluid retention could also be a contributory factor for a swollen eyeball. An excessive intake of alcohol can also lead to water retention and cause the tissues around the eyes to swell up. Hormonal imbalance could also be responsible for causing puffy eyes. Puffy eyes is one of the major symptoms of Graves' disease. Graves' ophthalmopathy, which is also known as thyroid eye disease, is characterized by swelling in the muscles around the eyes. Not everyone diagnosed with Graves' disease might suffer from protrusion of eyeball, but those who do, must seek medical help at the earliest.

Treatment

Since one of the main contributory factors for fluid retention or swelling around the eyes is Graves' ophthalmopathy, you must consult an ophthalmologist for figuring out the treatment options. Those who suffer from this condition may experience symptoms such as increased sensitivity to light, dryness, redness, eye discharge, ocular pressure, pain or protruded eyeballs. The medication and dosage that would be prescribed would vary depending on the symptoms experienced by the patient. It is very important to protect the eye from dryness. In case the swelling is causing a lot of discomfort, steroids can be used to ease the pain and to reduce the swelling. One can also apply cold compresses, but make sure that you don't put pressure on the eyes while doing so. If your eyeballs and eyelids are swollen and you are also experiencing ocular pressure or pain, ophthalmologists may prescribe glucocorticoid or cyclosporine.

If an infection is the underlying cause, then the treatment may involve the use of medicated eye drops. In event of a medical emergency, surgery may be done to decompress the orbit. People suffering from thyroid eye disease could even develop eyelid abnormalities. Under those circumstances, eyelid surgery might be done to strengthen, stretch and reconstruct the eyelids themselves. It has been seen that cessation of smoking is an important step towards treating Graves' Ophthalmopathy. So, if you are suffering from this condition, you must quit smoking. You must pay attention to all aspects of eye care. Do not strain your eyes. Do wear protective eye gear while stepping outdoors, especially if it is windy. If a foreign body enters the eye, wash your eyes carefully. If you suffer from an injury that results in bleeding, get medical help at the earliest.

Since our eyes are very delicate, a lack of eye care can surely make one susceptible to eye infections. An early diagnosis is very essential, so if you observe swelling, redness and pain, consult an ophthalmologist immediately. When diagnosed in the early stages, the chances of full recovery would be high.