Swollen eyes due to cold | The causes and treatment of swollen eyes

Swollen eyes due to cold

In most cases of a cold, the nose or the paranasal sinuses are displaced. As the tear fluid usually drains into the sinuses, it now accumulates. This is why the eye is watering more than usual when we have a cold.

In addition, the lymphatic fluid cannot drain off adequately and swelling of the eye occurs. This is unpleasant and disturbing, but harmless. When the cold subsides, the swelling also goes down. Inhalation, cooling, massage or wrapping can help the swelling to subside more quickly.

Diagnostics for swollen eyes

The diagnosis that the eyes are swollen is made by the doctor through inspection and palpation. Just by looking at the patient and the area around his eyes, the doctor can see that the eyelids and surrounding tissue are thickened and swollen. In addition, a slight reddening is usually seen.

In addition, a swelling can be detected by touching (palpating) the eyes. In the case of swelling, an elevation, elastic thickening and overheating is noticeable. Further diagnostics are usually not necessary. If it is suspected that there are injuries inside the eye; for example, due to a blow, fall or accident, then the inside of the eye can be examined with the slit lamp. In addition, the bones can then be x-rayed for fractures and the soft tissue (muscles, nerves, vessels) can be examined for damage with an MRI.

Accompanying symptoms

Depending on why the swollen eyes appear, further symptoms may be found. In the case of an allergy, for example, you may experience itching of the eye, a cold, coughing or sneezing, tears in the eyes and possibly shortness of breath. If renal insufficiency is the cause, then those affected usually also have swelling (edema) in other parts of the body.

In addition, fatigue, exhaustion, little urination, itching and loss of appetite are also seen. If excessive alcohol consumption is the cause, the typical symptoms of a hangover are headache, nausea, excessive urination, thirst and possibly also loss of appetite. If there is an inflammation of the eye, then there is usually a redness, overheating, possibly pain in the eye and, as problems progress, also visual disturbances.

The symptoms mentioned here occur with more specific diseases. If the cause is more likely to be other things, such as crying, sleeping for long periods, a foreign body in the eye or irritation, then in addition to the swelling of the eye, there is usually a slight redness and a feeling of pressure. If excessive alcohol consumption is the cause, then the typical symptoms of a hangover are found: headache, nausea, excessive urination, thirst and possibly also loss of appetite.

If there is an inflammation of the eye, then there is usually a redness, overheating, possibly pain in the eye and, as problems progress, also visual disturbances. The symptoms mentioned here occur with more specific diseases. If the cause is more likely to be other things, such as crying, sleeping for long periods, a foreign body in the eye or irritation, then in addition to the swelling of the eye, there is usually a slight redness and a feeling of pressure.

If itching appears in addition to the swollen eyes, an allergic cause is likely.Depending on which allergy is present, the problems occur at different times of the year, at different times and in different places. Mostly there are also symptoms such as running nose, sneezing or shortness of breath. As a test, mild antihistamines can be used for treatment.

If there is an improvement, then the allergy as the cause is very possible. In addition to the allergy, various infections are also possible. An inflammation of the cornea caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi causes redness, itching and swelling of the eye.

In addition, a hailstone or a barley grain should also be considered. These are also visible from the outside of the eye as swelling and redness. If, in addition to itching, there is also a strong redness and swelling of the eye and also pain or vision problems and these do not disappear within 2-3 days, then the family doctor or an ophthalmologist should be consulted.