Though it's not a serious condition as such, eyelid swelling as a result of some underlying allergy can cause a great deal of discomfort, and thus has to be subjected to prompt attention.
The swelling of eyelids is problematic for reasons more than one. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also lead to a lot of discomfort and, at times, even obstruct the person's vision. There exist several different conditions that can cause the eyelid to swell.
It can be a problem with the white portion of the eye, the eyelid itself, or may even be systemic in nature. At times, swelling is caused due to an allergic reaction, in which case the person may or may not have other accompanying symptoms.
Causes
Angioedema: One of the conditions that is responsible for eyelid swelling is angioedema. It is basically a condition characterized by rapid swelling of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Though the exact cause of this condition is not known, it is usually triggered due to an idiosyncratic allergy, such as a side effect of a medication.
This may lead to swelling of not just mucosal surfaces of the skin, but also of the eyelid skin, thus hindering its movement and obstructing vision.
Contact Sensitivity: The most common cause of eyelid swelling due to some allergen is contact dermatitis or eyelid dermatitis. This is also known as allergic dermatitis or atopic dermatitis. It is usually caused due to direct contact with an allergen, like insect spray, lemon peel oil, or certain alcohol-based substances.
At times, this is also seen in cases wherein an allergen is transferred to the surface of eyelid by hands. The chances of it being caused as a result of insect bite or bee sting cannot be ruled out.
Another cause of swollen eyelid due to allergies, particularly when it is unilateral, is when the person has lactose intolerance and ingests a large amount of dairy products.
Symptoms
The swelling of eyelids in itself is a symptom, rather than a medical condition or disease. At times, however, it is accompanied by various other symptoms―some of which are enlisted below.
There is usually itching, but no pain in the case of an allergic reaction.
Swelling of lips may also be seen, which includes swelling of half the lip or complete lip.
The eyelid may or may not be red in color. Sometimes, it may become pale in color.
One may notice reddening and soreness of the conjunctiva as well.
Constant tearing of eyes may occur as a response to the swelling. However, there is no crusting of the eyelid.
Depending on the extent of swelling, the person may have slight obstruction of vision.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no fixed protocol that can be followed to completely get rid of swelling. In most cases, one has to give it time to heal itself. The extent of swelling can be controlled by taking antihistamines. These help in preventing the severity of symptoms, especially the extent of swelling and reddening―if at all.
If a person is prone to such attacks, he may also be prescribed antihistamines on a regular basis, both for the purpose of treatment and as a preventive measure. A higher dose of antihistamines may be required if the person has a severe or high frequency of repeated attacks.
If a person has a systemic condition that is triggering the eye-related symptoms, then treatment of the underlying condition is a must in order to ensure that the said symptom is dealt with. In some cases, especially if the person also has an autoimmune disease, steroids will have to be prescribed to mitigate the symptoms.
Other than medication, simple remedies, like cold water and ice compress, may also come handy in easing the discomfort associated with it.
The condition is not very uncommon and is rarely very serious or irreversible. As in most cases, prevention is always better than cure.
So, if possible, especially in cases where the person has a history of repeated attacks of allergic swelling of the eyelids, he should try to track the allergen responsible for it and take necessary measures to ensure that he does not come in contact with it in the future.