Children often skin their knees, wake up with sore throats, and cut their own hair, but when they get swollen eyes, it can be a little alarming. A child can develop puffy eyes from rubbing them too hard, an eye infection, a bug bite, or something more serious.
Your optometrist can help diagnose and treat your child’s swollen eyes. We’re here to help, whether they need vision correction or antibiotics to clear up conjunctivitis.
What to Look for When Your Child’s Eyes Are Swollen
To narrow down the cause of your child’s eye swelling, there are some features to look for, including:
- The severity of the swelling—do they open normally, or are they swollen shut?
- Redness in the whites of the eye
- A single eye or both eyes
- Yellow or green discharge
- Eye rubbing
- Swelling in other parts of the face or body
Noting certain signs and sharing your observations with your optometrist can help them assess your child’s condition and manage the symptoms effectively.
Causes of Swelling in One Eye
Rubbing Eyes
If your child is rubbing their eyes, it can signal they have an irritant in their eye, they’ve scratched the eye, or they’re struggling to see clearly. Children constantly play and have their hands in things, so rubbing the eye can introduce germs that may lead to infection.
Stye
The eyelid margins and eyelash line have glands to help produce tears and wash away debris, but if a gland gets infected and irritated, your child can develop a stye. They’re bumps that grow on the eyelid or inside the eyelid resulting from a bacterial infection that can clear up with warm compresses.
Insect Bite
Mosquito bites are common, but if your child gets bitten near the eye, it can cause noticeable swelling. The skin around the eyes is delicate and loose, so bites may look like welts. Check your child’s body for signs of bites elsewhere to determine if a bug bite is a likely cause of the swelling.
Contact Dermatitis
If your child encounters an allergen or irritant, like poison ivy, they can develop contact dermatitis near the eye. Detergents, soaps, and other household products can also produce an allergic reaction to the skin of the eyes. If the eye swelling is caused by contact dermatitis, other areas of your child’s skin may display the same reaction.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a severe bacterial infection that can affect the eyelid and surrounding tissues, causing swelling. It’s often painful, elicits a fever, and is more common following an eye injury or sinus infection. This condition should be addressed immediately and considered an eye emergency.
Causes of Swelling in Both Eyes
Conjunctivitis
Otherwise known as pink eye, conjunctivitis can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. An obvious symptom of conjunctivitis is the bloodshot, reddened whites of the eye.
Viral pink eye is the most common, highly contagious type and can quickly pass around schools and daycares. In addition to swelling, bacterial pink eye can also cause yellow or green discharge. Your optometrist may recommend allowing conjunctivitis to pass naturally or can prescribe antivirals or antibiotics.
How to Manage Eye Swelling
To treat your child at home, several effective home remedies can help ease the swelling and accompanying symptoms.
Cold Compress
An ice or cold pack wrapped in a clean cloth applied to the eye can help ease discomfort and reduce swelling. Use a cold compress a few times a day for 15 to 20 minutes each session.
Allergy Medicine
If your child’s swelling results from a bug bite, allergies, or contact dermatitis, a dose of children’s antihistamine can decrease the itching sensation and swelling.
Eye Drops
Over-the-counter eye drops can help restore hydration to your child’s eyes and restore their comfort. Check with your optometrist for recommendations and directions before you use eye drops on kids.
Seek Care for Your Child’s Swollen Eyes
While many causes of eye swelling shouldn’t concern parents, you should seek emergency eye care if your child is facing:
- Eyelids that are sagging
- A long-lasting fever
- Severe redness, inflammation, and heat
- Double vision, seeing flashing lights, or wavy lines
- Sensitivity to light
- Severe swelling where the eye is almost shut
Swollen Eyes in Children: FAQs
Can Eye Swelling in Children Resolve on its Own?
Yes, eye swelling in children can sometimes resolve on its own, especially if it’s caused by minor issues like mild allergies, a small insect bite, or irritation.
Applying a cold compress and keeping the eye clean can help reduce the swelling. However, if the swelling persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms like pain or vision changes, it’s important to consult your eye doctor.
Are Over-the-Counter Eye Drops Safe for Treating Eye Swelling in Children?
Over-the-counter eye drops can be safe for treating mild eye swelling in children, but it’s crucial to choose drops specifically designed for children and to follow the dosage instructions carefully. Some drops may contain ingredients that could cause irritation or aren’t suitable for certain conditions.
It is best practice to consult with your eye care professional before using eye drops, especially if the swelling is severe or persists.
How Can I Tell if the Swelling Is Due to an Allergy or an Infection?
To differentiate between allergy-related and infection-related eye swelling in your child, observe the accompanying symptoms.
Allergies typically cause itching, redness, and watery eyes, often affecting both eyes and may coincide with other allergy symptoms like sneezing.
Infections like conjunctivitis often involve discharge, crusting around the eyes, pain, and redness, and may affect one eye more severely than the other.
Always consult your eye doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Pediatric Eye Care at Total Vision in Hercules
If your child is in distress, is highly uncomfortable, or is experiencing pain or fever, visit the doctors at Hercules Optometric Group to thoroughly assess your child’s eyes to uncover the reason for the swelling.
