A swollen eyelid occurs when there is inflammation or excess fluid (edema) in the connective tissues surrounding the eye. Swollen eyes can be painful or non-painful, and involve one eye or two and top or bottom eyelids.
Symptoms of Swollen Eyelids
Swelling of the eyelids is a symptom of an underlying cause, such as allergy or infection. Swollen eyes usually are accompanied by one or more of the following:
Eye irritation, such as an itchy or scratchy sensation
Excess tear production, resulting in watering eyes
Obstructed vision (depending on the extent of the swelling)
Redness of the eyelid
Redness and inflammation of the white of the eye (conjunctiva)
Discharge from the eye
Pain, particularly when swollen eyelids are caused by infection
Treatment of Swollen Eyelids
The first step in treating swollen eyelids is to identify the cause. The doctors at Westside Optometry may write a prescription, recommend an over the counter remedy or suggest hot or cold compresses depending on the diagnosis.
Tips for Preventing Swollen Eyelids
Control your allergies
Choose and use cosmetics, lotions and skin products carefully
Pay attention to eye drops you use, do not share them, check the expiration date and verify the intended use.
If you wear contact lenses, you can minimize your risk of eye infection or irritation by practicing proper hygiene, replacing contacts and contact cases as prescribed and not over-wearing your lenses.
To read more about the causes of swollen eyelids click here
In a series of rigorous clinical trials over several years, investigators have been researching the feasibility, risks and benefits of contact lens wear in children.
The most recent data is from the Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment (ACHIEVE). The ACHIEVE study looked at whether contact lenses affect how children feel about themselves. The children (between 8 and 11 years old) in the contact lens group felt significantly better about themselves compared to the eyeglass wearers in three specific areas: athletic competence, social acceptance and physical appearance. This doesn’t mean that children actually performed better after they began wearing contact lenses; rather, it means they felt more competent and confident about their performance in those areas. But perception can become reality. According to Mitchell Prinstein, professor and director of clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina, “Children’s sense of self-concept can alter their whole course of development,” he says. “Kids who feel more confident about sports or social activities are more likely to engage in those experiences, which further builds their skills and makes them more open to similar experiences in the future.”
Not all children are ready for the responsibility of contact lens wear at 8 years old, but we at Westside Optometry have seen children that young succeed with the handling, and care of contact lenses. To see a comparison of contacts and glasses, click here.
There are many advantages to wearing contact lenses. There are disadvantages too. If you are compliant with care and replacement of your contact lenses, the risks are reduced greatly.
Be aware that serious injury to the eye, scarring of the cornea and loss of vision may result from problems associated with wearing contact lenses and using lens care products. Eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop rapidly and lead to loss of vision. Immediately call or visit Westside Optometry for persistent symptoms of any eye discomfort, watering, vision change, or redness.
Extended Wear
Overnight wear of contact lenses has been shown to increase the risk of contact lens related complications. Do not wear your contact lenses for extended wear (24 hours a day including sleep) unless I’ve directed you to do so.
Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of serious problems with contact lens wear, especially when lenses are worn overnight. If you smoke, be sure to inform me.
Following Directions
Be sure to follow the exact instructions from my contact lens technician, myself and the contact lens manufacturer provide about how to use and care for your contact lenses and lens care products, including lens cases. Failure to do so may put you at risk of developing a serious eye infection.
Use Proper Lens Care Solutions
Soft Contact Lens Solutions
Do not use saliva, tap water, distilled water, or homemade saline solution for any purpose in caring for your lenses. The use of these solutions has been associated with serious eye infections including Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment and cure.
Adverse Effects (Possible Problems)
It is possible that problems can occur and may be accompanied by one or more of the following conditions:
Moderate to severe eye pain not relieved by removing the lens
Feeling of something in the eye
Unusual eye secretions
Eye redness
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Eyes burn, sting or itch
Eyes water
Reduced sharpness of vision
Rainbows or halos around objects
Uncomfortable lens
Feeling of dryness
A serious condition such as corneal ulcer or eye infection may be present and may progress rapidly. Even less serious reactions such as a scratched cornea must be treated promptly to avoid serious complications.
What to do if a Problem Occurs
If you experience any of the above signs or symptoms, immediately remove your lens(es)
1. If the discomfort stops, then look closely at the lens(es):
If the lens is damaged in any way, DO NOT put the lens back on your eye. Discard the damaged lens.
If the lens(es) have dirt, an eyelash or other foreign body on them, and the lens(es) appear undamaged, thoroughly clean, rinse and disinfect the lens(es), then reinsert. After reinsertion, if the problem continues, remove the lens(es) immediately and contact Westside Optometry.
2. If discomfort continues after you have removed your lens(es):
Immediately contact Westside Optometry
Do not reinsert a new or spare lens onto an eye that is red, irritated or painful. A new lens may hide symptoms and delay treatment.
When Lenses Should Not Be Worn
Contact lenses should not be worn under certain general health and eye conditions. I take into consideration many factors to determine if continued contact lens wear is right for you. These include the following:
Inflammation or infection in or around the eye or eyelids
Excessive dryness of the eyes that makes contact lens wear uncomfortable
Any condition which reduces corneal sensitivity
Systemic diseases that may be affected by or impact lens wear
Allergic conditions, reactions or ocular irritation caused or exaggerated by lens wear or certain preservatives in lens care products
The use of any medication, including some eye medications, that shouldn’t be used with or interferes with contact lens wear
If eyes become red or irritated
General Guidelines for Safe Contact Lens Wear
While wearing your contact lenses, your eyes should look well, feel comfortable and your vision should be clear.
Your lenses are provided to you in a foil sealed plastic container. Never use a lens if the container seal is broken, as damage or contamination may have occurred.
Do not wear your lenses longer than prescribed, no matter how comfortable the lenses feel. Doing so increases the risk of adverse effects.
For a printable version of the above cautions for contact lens wear, click here.
2013 can be the year you have the best vision possible. Below are some suggestions to help you.
Improve Your Eye Health
Eat smart. Diet and nutritional supplements go a long way in promoting eye health. Studies show a diet rich in fruits, leafy vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of eye problems like macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome.
Get moving. Research has shown higher levels of physical exercise can reduce certain risk factors for glaucoma, as well as macular degeneration.
Quit smoking. Put simply, smoking harms your vision. Studies show smoking dramatically increases the likelihood of developing cataracts, macular degeneration,uveitis and diabetic retinopathy.
Protect your eyes from the sun (and make sure your kids do, too). Always wear sunglasses with UV protection when outdoors — no matter what time of year — to shield your eyes from UV rays. This may reduce your risk for cataracts and macular degeneration.
Schedule an eye exam for everyone in your family. Kids and seniors, especially, should have comprehensive annual eye exams to monitor vision changes. Also, have your family doctor screen you for diabetes and hypertension — if left untreated, these diseases can lead to serious eye problems.
Start using safety eyewear for lawn-mowing, home repairs and other chores. Experts say 90 percent of eye injuries requiring a visit to the emergency room can be prevented with proper safety eyewear.
Properly care for your contact lenses. Dirty contact lenses, even if they are not uncomfortable, can cause serious eye infections. Clean your contact lenses and contact lens case properly, and always replace your contacts as recommended.
Reduce computer eye strain. Rest your eyes from computer work every 20 minutes to relieve computer vision syndrome and avoid dry, red eyes. Also, ask your eye doctor about stress-relieving computer glasses.
If you’ve been putting up with contact lens discomfort, dry eyes, eye allergies or blurry vision, talk to me about changes you can make to improve or eliminate these problems.
Improve Your Vision
Blurriness? If your contacts or glasses are no longer doing their job, you may need a new prescription and/or a different lens design.
Upgrade your contact lenses. Contact lenses come in a wide variety of materials, replacement schedules and wearing times — not to mention the array of color contact lenses and special effect contacts available.
With the advancement in contact lens technology, there’s sure to be a type of contact lens that suits your individual requirements and lifestyle.
Try eyeglass lens coatings. Various lens coatings keep your field of view clear by reducing reflections, fogging and scratches. And eliminate glare during outdoor activities with polarized sunglasses.
Consider sports-specific eyewear. For athletes and sporting enthusiasts, there are performance-enhancing frames and lenses designed specifically for different sports and outdoor activities.
Make sure your sports eyewear includes lightweight, impact-resistant polycarbonate or Trivex lenses for comfort and safety.
Improve Your Appearance
Upgrade your eyewear. Get with the times and refresh your look, as well as take advantage of the latest in lens and frame technologies.
If you have a strong prescription, try high index eyeglass lenses. High index lenses provide the same optical power as regular ones, but are thinner and lighter.
Considering LASIK? If you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts, ask your us if you are a good candidate for LASIK or other vision correction surgery.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you wore your contact lenses overnight? Unexpectedly stayed the night at a friends house and didn’t have anywhere to put your lenses? Enjoying a late night and fall asleep with your contacts on?
It happens, contact lenses get worn too long and sometimes over night. Some contact lenses are better for this than others. I prescribe and fit people with the intention of overnight use. I also warn patients about the risks they are taking with their eyes.
Depending on the contact lens type and material, oxygen is reduced to the cornea. Movement of the contact with each blink aids the transmission of oxygen. When you are sleeping with the contact lens, the eye is closed and no oxygen gets to the cornea. There is no blinking either so the lens doesn’t move. The reduction in oxygen causes the cornea to swell, if the lens allows plenty of oxygen to get to the cornea during the day, the cornea will deswell and return to normal. However, if the cornea remains swollen, and you sleep in the lens consecutive nights, blood vessels will begin to grow into the cornea. Sometimes the eye responds by becoming inflamed, red and painful.
Another risk of leaving the lenses in overnight is infection. Typically when a lens is removed it is thrown away or placed in disinfecting solution. In the morning a new lens or a clean, disinfected lens is applied to the cornea. Microbials build up on a lens that is worn continually. If your cornea is compromised by a scratch or edema, the bacteria will infect the eye.
If you have been prescribed extended wear contact lenses, stay compliant to your wear schedule, once in awhile overnight or 6 consecutive nights. Clean and replace your lenses as prescribed. If you are wearing your daily wear contacts overnight, let’s talk about a safer option. This may include a higher oxygen material or even LASIK. Sometimes the prescription can be a limiting factor. If the prescription is higher, farsighted or is toric and corrects astigmatism, the lenses will be thicker and reduce oxygen transmissability.
An easy way to make contact lenses more comfortable is to put a drop of artificial tears into the eye or onto the lens before putting on the contact lens. The scientific basis for this includes physical lubrication which enhances comfort by reducing dryness and protecting the cornea (surface of the eye). It also increases viscosity and lowers the tear film tension so the eye stays wetter.
In addition, the common ingredient in artificial tears is carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The CMC is negatively charged so it binds to the preservatives in the multi-purpose disinfecting solutions to decrease irritation.
If your contact lenses are uncomfortable and you find yourself taking the lenses out earlier each day or not even putting them in, call Westside Optometry to schedule an appointment.
I have attended 2 interactive evenings sponsored by 2 different contact lens manufacturers in the last 2 months. Both companies were promoting their soft multifocal contact lens products. Each lens type appears to offer something different.
I was able to gleen some tips that I think will improve patient success in the lenses. I am feeling more optimistic about soft multifocal contact lenses. A multifocal contact lens is designed to improve the close vision and make near tasks easier while wearing contact lenses. This is important for someone experiencing presbyopic changes and finding themselves pushing the newspaper farther away or reaching for reading glasses more frequently. The challenge with the lenses has been trying to achieve good near vision without decreasing the distance vision.
The other advantage of the newer multifocal contact lenses is they are available in the silicone hydrogel (sihy) material. The sihy material allows more oxygen to reach the cornea, less protein to deposit and better daily comfort.
To add to the excitement, a new daily use multifocal has just hit the market. I think this will help include the patients who wear their lenses intermittently or who can only wear a lens once because of comfort issues.
Click here to read more about the rigid gas permeable multifocal contact lens designs.
Soft daily use contact lenses have been available since 1995. The obvious advantage of replacing contact lenses daily is placing a clean, sterile, well-hydrated lens in your eye each morning. Even with the best cleaning and hygiene; lenses get dirty, lose their ability to stay wet and protein adheres to the surface. These factors reduce comfort, cause dryness and decrease lens clarity.
The other advantage is the elimination of contact lens solutions and the complications resulting from solutions. The contact lens solution industry changes as often as the lenses. Most contact lens complications result from sensitivity to the solution or poor compliance. Eliminating this component from the care of contact lenses, resolves multiple problems.
Probably the greatest advantages to patients is the convenience. No more contact lens solutions, no contact lens cases, just a clean, clear and comfortable lens each day.
For intermittent wearers, someone who uses lenses for sports, social events or infrequently, the daily lenses are easier to keep on hand, in a gym bag, briefcase or backpack. No more trying to remember how old a lens is, or opening the case to find dried up lenses.
One of the disadvantages is that not all prescriptions are available in daily disposable lenses. There are some toric lenses (astigmatism correction) in limited powers but not enough. Currently there is not a decent multifocal daily contact lens (although, this will be available in the future). The second disadvantage of daily replacement lenses is they are not designed for overnight use and must be removed before sleeping.
I would like to say that I think of this stuff by myself but my brain is scientific and analytical (a good trait for a doctor). I can’t help but admire a creative mind. The other day I asked a patient for a list of medicines he was taking and he whipped out his iPhone. I thought he was going to call his wife to ask her, instead he went to his notes and read his list to me. Usually I get a piece of paper which I appreciate because I can xerox it and update my list later, but the phone list was legible, and up-to date. I was very impressed until about an hour later I asked a different patient if there were any changes in the medicine he was taking. The gentlemen whipped out his phone. No way, this has never happened and twice in the same morning, did I miss a memo? Instead of a list, the patient showed me a picture. The picture was a pill bottle of his newest medication. Easier yet, includes dosage, correct spellings and even easier to maintain. Just take a picture of the bottle. Brilliant!
How do you use your smart phone to be smarter about your health and eyes? What about setting alerts when it is time to change your contact lenses?
Even with the longer days of spring, driving at night is still challenging.
When you are behind the wheel of a car, your eyes are constantly on the move – looking at vehicles ahead and to the side, reading traffic signs, checking your rear view mirror, and shifting your gaze inside and outside your vehicle in order to check the speedometer, look at your global navigation system, or change a radio station.
During darkness these tasks can become even more difficult for some drivers. According to a nationwide survey 32% of the drivers say they have difficulty seeing all or most of the time while driving in the dark.
Low light levels cause the pupil to dilate, which can accentuate existing focusing problems and result in blurred vision. Wearing the best distance correction will minimize this vision problem. At Westside Optometry we also recommend a non-glare coating to eliminate reflections from annoying headlights.
Dry eyes will effect your vision when driving at night also. If the tear layer is uneven, thick or thin, the quality of vision is negatively impacted. I compare this phenomena to the windshield and wipers. Every blink is like the windshield wiper across the windshield, in the case of the eye, the eyelid wipes across the cornea. If the windshield is dry, the wiper makes it smeary. You can resolve this by squirting water on the windshield and wiping again. If the eye is dry, vision gets smeary and sometimes there are not any tears to clear it up. I recommend applying a drop of artificial tear solution before starting to drive at night.
When you do not see well you have to get closer or drive slower, and if you do not account for that need, you are at risk of causing accidents.
Westside Optometry may write a prescription, recommend an over the counter remedy or suggest hot or cold compresses depending on the diagnosis.
