Introduction
A swollen eyelid is disturbing, unsightly and annoying in many ways. It can itch, flake, wet, or its sheer size can obstruct the view and restrict the field of vision. The causes behind such a swollen, thickened eyelid are manifold. The first and most important question that helps the physician and of course the affected person(s) in the search for the cause and the diagnosis itself is the distinction between an inflammatory eyelid swelling and a non-inflammatory eyelid swelling.
General information
In addition, a distinction is made based on the degree of expression and the area in which the eyelid is thick and swollen. Depending on the cause, various other parts of the eye in addition to the eyelid can also be affected, for example the conjunctiva or the cornea. As a result, the eye can appear reddened and feel dry and itchy, sometimes patients complain about newly occurring visual disturbances.
Of course, to say this in advance, there are also congenital swellings of the eyelid, which are usually considered harmless or are treated by a doctor shortly after birth. These include the haemangioma (the capillary hemangioma) or the so-called raised mole (also called nevus cell nevus), which does not necessarily have to be brownish in color. There are of course also eyelid swellings which are very dangerous and require immediate medical treatment.
These include, for example, inflammation of the eyelid, which affects the whole eye or even the eye socket. Or other acute pathological processes that may indicate other swellings or even a state of shock of the patient. These include, for example, angioedema or hives.
If the patient is again pregnant and complains of swollen eyelids, these can be a sign of a pregnancy-related disease (gestosis), namely pre-eclampsia. In rare cases, the eyelid is also swollen due to tumorous processes in the area of the eye. Very much more frequently, however, it is a harmless hailstone, a very common form of chronic eyelid inflammation.
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