Red/Swollen Eyelids
Red Eyelids, Swollen Eyelids, Painful Eyelids
Below are the 3 most common causes of red/painful/swollen eyelids.
The information below is not intended to take the place of a professional eye exam and treatment. Aside from regular eye-exams that should take place at least every year, if you’re experiencing any pain, blood, discoloration, discharge or loss of vision, you should immediately contact the Eye Center of Hallandale at 954.457.7445 to schedule an appointment with an Ophthalmologist.
Blepharitis is a swelling and irritation / inflammation of the eyelids.
A stye is a bump on your eyelid caused by a bacterial infection.
A chalazion is a slow-growing, inflammatory lump in the tear gland of the upper or lower eyelid.
Blepharitis
Symptoms:
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Reddish, scaly skin around the scalp and eyebrows.
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Burning or itching of the eyelids.
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Eye discharge at night that causes the eyelashes to stick together in the morning.
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Eyelashes that fall out.
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Sensitivity to light.
Cause:​
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The most common cause of blepharitis is a bacterial infection.
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The infection occurs in the oil glands along the lid margin. Other common causes include drug and cosmetic allergies or eye irritation from too much rubbing of the eye.
Treatment:
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Simple treatment includes cleaning of the eyelashes and lid margins with warm water. This cleaning should be done daily until the discharge clears up. You should also consider applying a warm compresses several times daily. If this doesn’t clear up within a week or you’re experiencing pain, contact Dr. Yalon and team at the Hallandale Eye Center for antibiotic ointment and drops to help rapidly clear up your eyes.
Tips:
Avoid using any eye make-up around the eyes while experiencing any irritation.
You’ll also want to remain extremely clean during an infection:
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Wash your hands often.
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Wash your eyelids with warm water or with warm water that is mixed with a small amount of baby shampoo.
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Wash your face and eyebrows at least once a day.
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Use a clean towel each time you dry your eyelids.
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Do not use this towel to clean or dry other areas of your body.
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Do not share your towel with anyone.
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Do not share makeup with anyone.
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Avoid rubbing your eyes.
Stye
Symptoms:
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May be painful
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Eyelid tenderness
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A stye can either form inside the eyelid (internal stye) or outside the eyelid (external stye).
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Pus drainage from stye.
Treatment:
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It’s important to make sure the infection does not spread to other parts of your eye or areas around your eye. The experienced eye specialists at Hallandale Eye Center may prescribe antibiotic drops or ointment to prevent further infection. If necessary, we can also drain the stye surgically if your stye is significantly large, causing you excessive pain or impairing your vision.
Cause:​
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While an external stye may be caused by an infection at the base of your eyelash (hair follicle), an internal stye may be caused by an infected oilproducing gland inside your eyelid.
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Styes are common, and anyone can get them at any age. They usually occur in just one eye, and can also come in multiples. The infection is nearly always caused by bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. This is a common type of bacteria that lives on your skin.
Chalazion
Scleritis and episcleritis are two additional conditions that can cause redness and inflammation of the white part of the eye (sclera).
Symptoms:
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Can feel like a small painful or painless bead on the eyelid.
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Red / Inflamed eyelid.
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Eyelid tenderness
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Over a few days, it may get bigger, red, or rubbery and can either remain painless or may cause pain & irritation.
Cause:​
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This condition may be caused by long-lasting inflammation of the eyelid glands, or a blocked oil gland in the eyelid. A Chalazion can become infected over time.
Treatment:
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It’s important to examine the eye quickly to determine if the Chalazion needs to be treated with medicine applied to the eye, injected into the Chalazion or potentially surgery.
Dr. Moshe Yalon has nearly 40 years of experience diagnosing Chalazions and other Eye Infections. The team at the Hallandale Eye Center is committed to your speedy and safe journey towards optimal eye health.
Tips:
Before visiting the Hallandale Eye Center, it’s important to follow these instructions at home:
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Do not touch the chalazion.
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Do not try to remove the pus, such as by squeezing the chalazion or sticking it with a pin or needle.
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Do not rub your eyes.
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Wash your hands often. Dry your hands with a clean towel.
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Keep your face, scalp, and eyebrows clean.
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Avoid wearing eye makeup.
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Apply a warm, moist compress to the eyelid 4--6 time s a day for 10- 15 minutes at a time. This will help to open any blocked glands and help to reduce redness and swelling.
All three of the above infections can cause serious eye issues without a specialist’s attention.
If you’re experiencing any abnormal eye-lid swelling, pain, burning, irritation, lumps, bumps or discharge, please call Dr. Yalon immediately at 954.457.7445 to schedule an appointment. Our office is conveniently located adjacent Hollywood, Aventura, and Fort Lauderdale at 2500 East Hallandale Beach Blvd. Suite N, Hallandale Beach Florida, 33009.