What to do if your eye is swollen and hurts?

What to do if your eye is swollen and hurts?

Things you can do immediately

1. Use a saline solution to rinse your eyes, if there’s discharge.
2. Use a cool compress over your eyes. This can be a cold washcloth.
3. Remove contacts, if you have them.
4. Place chilled black tea bags over your eyes.
5. Elevate your head at night to decrease fluid retention.

What does it mean when your eye hurts and is swollen?

Swollen eyelids, or swelling around the eyes, is an inflammatory response to allergies, infection or injury. Eyelid swelling can happen with just one eye or both eyes. Eye puffiness is usually related to lack of sleep, age-related sagging of tissue and general water retention.

What does it mean when your eye is red and hurts?

Red eyes usually are caused by allergy, eye fatigue, over-wearing contact lenses or common eye infections such as pink eye (conjunctivitis). However, redness of the eye sometimes can signal a more serious eye condition or disease, such as uveitis or glaucoma.

Should I go to the ER for a swollen eye?

We recommend seeking immediate medical attention anytime you experience swelling, redness, or pain in your eye, especially if it occurs after an injury or having a foreign object or chemical in your eye. When left untreated, these injuries can damage your eye even more, leading to partial and/or permanent blindness.

How long does conjunctivitis last?

Most cases of viral conjunctivitis are mild. The infection will usually clear up in 7 to 14 days without treatment and without any long-term consequences. However, in some cases, viral conjunctivitis can take 2 to 3 weeks or more to clear up.

When is an eye infection serious?

If a person has signs of an eye infection, they should contact a doctor. Severe symptoms, such as extreme pain or a sudden loss of vision, require emergency medical care. Likewise, if symptoms of a stye, blepharitis, or conjunctivitis fail to improve with home care, people should see a doctor.