The eyelids protect our eyes from external influences such as foreign bodies or strong light. They distribute the tear fluid. Thus provide for an optimal supply of our eyes. Although eyelids appear so delicate, they are made up of muscles, connective tie and glands. Due to their complex structure our eyelids can be vulnerable. Which different complaints eyelids can cause and what one can do against it, experience here.
Brief overview
Types: Eyelid discomfort can manifest itself in different ways: The eyelid may be itchy or swollen, there may be inflammation of the eye such as the barley or hailstones. A twitching eyelid or a drooping eyelid can also cause discomfort.
Common risk factors: There are many factors that increase the risk for eyelid discomfort. Strained, tired eyes and eyelids are prone to discomfort, but allergies, bacteria or foreign bodies can also cause eyelid discomfort. Poor eye hygiene and old age make eyelid disorders more likely to occur.
TreatmentMany eyelid complaints disappear on their own, but there are cases in which medical treatment is important and necessary. Home remedies can also support healing in some cases.
Twitching eyelid
Many people are familiar with the uncomfortable twitching of the eyelid, often in situations with high stress levels. It usually occurs without warning and disappears on its own, but it cannot be controlled by sufferers.
Symptoms
A twitching eyelid Appears suddenly and can rarely be controlled. Mostly it is only Temporary and self-limiting. However, if it persists or occurs more than occasionally, it is often perceived as very unpleasant and disturbing by those affected.
Causes and risk factors
Different causes can underlie twitching. It can stress-related occur or in the case of Overtiredness of the eyes by working for a long time, for example at screens. Also a Magnesium deficiency can cause twitching of the muscle in the eyelid. This often occurs in people who do a lot of sports or during pregnancy. But also neurological diseases can manifest itself as eye twitching and can also occur as part of a tic disorder.
When to see a doctor?
Usually the eye twitching disappears within minutes, but even an eye twitch that lasts for hours does not have to be bad. But do you suffer over days and regularly on your twitching eyelid, you should consult your health care professional. Especially if you suffer strongly from twitching, this is a reason to seek medical advice.
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Treatment
In most cases, a twitching eyelid does not need treatment. If you suspect that you have a magnesium deficiency, you are welcome to discuss this with your doctor. A magnesium deficiency can usually be treated well with a balanced diet treat, for example, whole grains and nuts contain a lot of magnesium. Rarely, eye twitching hides a serious disease of the eye, nerves or brain. In such cases, the underlying disease is treated.
Puffy eyelid
Swollen eyelids are uncomfortable and can be very limiting in everyday life. However, the swelling often subsides on its own and does not require medical treatment.
Symptoms
Swelling of the eyelid can be very uncomfortable and in severe cases it can be the Restrict opening or closing of the eye. Often other symptoms occur with the swelling such as:
In most cases, the swelling of the eyelid is only temporary and harmless.
Causes and risk factors
There are many causes that can cause swelling of the eyelid. If the whole eye area is swollen, many different causes come into question, such as:
– allergies – colds – long crying – foreign body in the eye
If only the eyelid is affected by the swelling, a Allergy underlying. Often one speaks then of an angioedema or hives. But also inflammations of the eyelid often manifest themselves by a swelling of the eye.
A swollen eyelid can also be caused by Water retention underlying, this is then called eyelid edema. Water retention can have different causes, in rare cases swollen eyelids hide internal diseases, for example, of the kidney or thyroid gland. In women, hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can also cause eyelid swelling. In old age, swelling of the eyelids can also occur due to changes in the connective tie.
When to see a doctor?
In most cases the swelling of the eyelid goes away by itself. Especially if you can identify it as a cause of the swelling, for example, little sleep, it is not a cause for alarm. However, should your eyelid be swollen for several days, cause you severe pain or restrict you in your everyday life, these are reasons to seek medical advice. But also, if the swelling occurs again and again without any apparent cause, this is in need of clarification.
treatment
As a rule, a swollen eyelid does not need treatment. Often the following tips can help
– get enough sleep – drink enough water, – eat a balanced diet (little salt, alcohol and caffeine only in moderation) – maintain good eye hygiene
The medical therapy depends on the clinical picture. In the case of inflammation can Antibiotics The following tablets can be used in the case of a cold to alleviate the symptoms of a cold. If the swelling is caused by an underlying disease, it must be identified and treated, often it requires a specialist.
inflammation of the eyelid
Eyelid inflammation causes the eyelid to swell, this can affect both the lower and upper eyelid. The most common forms of eyelid inflammation are stye (hordeolum) and hailstone (chalazion).
Stye
Symptoms:
A stye is an inflammation of the eyelid margins caused by bacteria. A stye can develop very quickly and be very painful. The swelling is found
on the edge of the eyelid and often contains pus, which can often be seen from the outside as Small yellow spot is recognizable. It can become the size of a pea and be strongly reddened. A stye is usually harmless and heals on its own.
A stye is an inflammation of the eyelid margins caused by Bacteria is caused. Mostly the bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus.
Chronic skin diseases such as rosacea or acne increase the likelihood of developing a stye. But also chronic diseases, this the Immune system weakening, make the occurrence of a stye more likely.
Also lack of eye and hand hygiene increase the risk, so children are more often affected by a stye.
A stye is usually harmless and heals on its own. However, it should be clarified by a medical professional. For example, inflammation of other parts of the eye can be excluded.
At recurring stye it requires in any case a medical examination. Sometimes a hordeolosis can be caused by diabetes mellitus or another disease weakening the immune system.
A stye usually heals on its own within a few days. In no case should you try to express it.
dry heat in the form of Red light therapy can support the healing process. Discuss red light therapy with your doctor in any case. Damp heat, for example in the form of warm washcloths, is not advisable. worsening of the inflammation and spreading of the bacteria can occur.
Although a stye usually heals on its own, in some cases a antibiotic treatment Take place. This is mostly local in the form of Eye ointments or eye drops. Also can anti-inflammatory medication come into play.
hailstone
Symptoms:
A hailstone, unlike a stye, is not painful. This is a
blockage of the eyelid marginal glands, which, however, is not caused by bacteria. Often the stye is found on the inside of the eyelid, it does not contain pus. A hailstone can develop only on the upper eyelid. Although the stye is not painful, it is often perceived as very unpleasant by the affected person.
Causes and risk factors:
A hailstone is caused by a blockage of the eyelid marginal glands. Sometimes a chalazion develops after a barleycorn, but it can also
without an obvious trigger occur.
Chronic skin diseases such as rosacea or acne increase the likelihood of a barley and hailstone. But also chronic metabolic diseases increase the risk of developing a stye. In very rare individual cases, a hailstone can also conceal a serious disease, which is why clarification is advisable if the hailstone does not disappear for weeks or keeps recurring.
As a rule the hailstone disappears within a few weeks by itself again. If it is not painful, or if it does not completely disappear, a doctor should be consulted. In any case, medical advice should be sought if the hailstone does not disappear over several weeks or keeps recurring.
treatment:
Heat can help the regression process of the hailstone. Here can Red light can be used, but also warm, clean washcloths.
A good Eyelid rim hygiene Helps prevent the development of a hailstorm. Under eyelid edge hygiene one understands the cleaning and care of the eyelid edges. This includes hot dry compresses, eyelid massage, cleaning the edge of the eyelid, eye drops, eye ointments and sometimes antibiotics.
In the case of medical therapy can anti-inflammatory medicines like ointments or eye drops come to the use. In rare cases, surgery may also be useful and necessary.