Puffy Eyes: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Published on February 21st, 2023

Updated on April 9th, 2024

Puffy eyes is an eye condition where the skin around and under the eyes appears inflamed, swollen or puffed out. Puffy eyes, also known as periorbital puffiness, can be caused by multiple factors, but most commonly puffy eyes is caused by fluid gathering in the skin under the eyes, also known as the orbitals, which causes this area to appear inflated and puffed out.

The puffy eyes definition is eyes that have under-eyelid swelling, known colloquially as puffy under eyes. Puffy eye causes include allergies, aging, diet, poor sleep or genetics. Puffy eye symptoms include swollen under eyes, puffy eyelids on the top and bottom of the eyes, red and itching eyes, and bags under the eyes and loose or sagging skin. Puffy eye treatments include home remedies such as a cool cloth on the face or lifestyle changes, such as less salt in a diet.

What are Puffy Eyes?

Puffy eyes, medically known as periorbital puffiness, is an eye and skin condition where the skin around and under the eyes appear puffy and swollen. Puffy eyes may also be red and itchy as well as swollen, and other symptoms of the eye condition may be bags under the eyes and skin under the eyes that appears loose and saggy.

The Puffy eyes meaning is an eye and skin condition that affects the physical appearance of the skin under the eyes.

What do Puffy Eyes Look Like?

The following image is a demonstration of what puffy eyes look like, and an example of how the skin under the eye makes the eye appear more swollen.

Puffy Eyes: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What are the Other Terms for Puffy Eyes?

The other term for puffy eyes is the medical term, periorbital edema which refers to the swelling of the orbit. Puffy eyes are more commonly known as bags under the eyes, under-eye swelling, swollen eye bags, and baggy eyes.

How Common are Puffy Eyes?

Puffy eyes are a common eye condition that affects more of the population as they age. Puffy eyes can have genetic cause when the condition is long lasting or a person appears to have puffy eyes consistently, but otherwise, puffy eyes can affect everyone for short periods of time, most commonly as soon as they wake up due to tears that would normally be expelled or blinked being stored in the skin under the eyes.

What are the Causes of Puffy Eyes?

What causes eye puffiness is multiple factors related to age, lifestyle and genetics. Puffy eyes are caused by allergies, eyelid fat prolapse, family history, sleep issues, diet and aging. The following are symptoms of, and reasons for puffy eyes.

Allergies: Allergies can cause puffy eyes because the body's reaction to an allergen creates inflammation in the eyes and body.
Eyelid fat prolapse: Eyelid fat can cause puffy eyes because aging tissue, muscle and fat in the skin results in fat placing itself in the skin under the eyes.
Family history: Family history, and family genetics can cause puffy eyes because a parent who is prone to having puffy eyes may pass that gene onto their offspring.
Sleep issues: Sleep issues can cause puffy eyes because they weaken the muscles around the eye, causing more liquid and tears to cover around the skin.
Diet: Diet is a cause of puffy eyes because eating an excess of salt can cause puffiness across the whole body.
Aging: Aging can cause puffy eyes because the aging soft tissue and muscle allows fat to slide under the eye.

1. Allergies

Allergies is a term that refers to the reaction the immune system has to certain foreign substances that may be normally harmless but can cause severe and uncomfortable symptoms in certain people.

2. Eyelid Fat Prolapse

Eyelid fat prolapse refers to a type of puffy eyes that occurs due to the skin stretching and the muscles of the eyes getting weaker due to a buildup of fat.

Eyelid fat causes the skin around the eyes to stretch, fat then sags into the area under the eyes.

3. Family History

Family history, or genetics, refers to the passing of certain traits and features from a hereditary body, such as a parent.

If your parents had eye bags or were prone to puffy eyes themselves, then their descendants will share the same genetic propensity. Genetics may also cause eye bags depending on the appearance of a person's parents: if a parent had sagging or clear eye bags, then the child is very likely to look the same, according to Dr. Brett Kotlus, a genetics expert from the United States.

4. Sleep Issues

Sleep issues refers to any problems or irregular disruptions with a person's natural sleep cycle, such as not getting enough bed rest, or possibly getting too much.

Sleep issues can cause puffy eyes due to fluid retention around the eyes. Puffy eyes occur naturally during sleep and will fade with time. Puffy eyes that do not fade are caused by the muscles and soft tissue of the eyes weakening, allowing excess fluid into the area of skin under the eyes, causing puffiness.

The dark rings around the eyes associated with lack of sleep are because a lack of sleep causes an increase in blood flow. This increased blood flow is clearer in the thinner skin around the eyes.

5. Diet

Diet refers to a person's daily intake of food and the nutritional value and effects the food has on the body. A poor diet can cause puffy eyes if there is an excess of salt in meals. Too much salt in a diet can make the body retain more water to compensate, causing additional puffiness around the entire body and creating bags under the eyes.

6. Aging

Aging refers to the natural process of the body growing older as time goes on. Aging can affect many parts of the body, causing these parts to grow weaker or possibly lose the complete functionality the part of the body once had.

Aging can cause puffy eyes because as the eyes age, soft tissue and muscle around the eyes lose strength and eventuates towards a more puffy appearance. This can also present as eye bags.

What are the Medical Conditions that Cause Puffy Eyes?

Medical conditions that cause puffy eyes are dermatitis, blepharitis, orbital cellulitis, chalazion, and keratitis. The medical conditions that may cause puffy eyes are listed below.

Dermatitis: Dermatitis causes puffy eyes by causing inflammation of the skin around the eyes.
Blepharitis: Blepharitis causes puffy eyes by causing the eyelids to turn red, become swollen, itchy and irritated.
Orbital Cellulitis: Orbital cellulitis causes puffy eyes by infecting the fat and soft tissue around the eye, causing inflammation and swelling.
Chalazion: Chalazion causes puffy eyes by swelling and causing inflammation within the eyelid oil glands.
Keratitis: Keratitis causes puffy eyes by creating inflammation of the cornea.

What are the Symptoms of Puffy Eyes?

The symptoms of puffy eyes are swelling under the eyes, swelling on the eyelid, swelling around the orbit, bags under the eye, and saggy or loose skin. The following are the symptoms of puffy eyes.

Swelling under the eyes: Swelling under the eyes is a symptom of puffy eyes where the skin under the eyes appears swollen or inflamed.
Swelling on the eyelid: Swelling on the eyelid is a symptom of puffy eyes where the top eyelid becomes swollen and bloated.
Swelling around the orbit: Swelling around the orbit is a symptom of puffy eyes where the wide area of the skin under the eyes becomes heavily and clearly swollen and puffy.
Bags under the eye: Bags under the eye is a symptom of puffy eyes where there is light but clear swelling and puffiness in the skin under the eyes.
Saggy or loose skin: Saggy or loose skin is a symptom of puffy eyes where the skin appears to be sagging and loose due to fat falling under the eyelids.

1. Swelling Under the Eyes

Swelling under the eye refers to the skin directly under the eye, in the tear trough area, appearing puffy, swollen or inflamed.

Swelling under the eye becomes a symptom of puffy eyes by either the soft tissue and muscle around the eye becoming weaker and allowing fluid or fat in the eye to move into the skin under the eye. Swelling under the eye may also be caused by allergies or conditions that cause inflammation in the skin.

2. Swelling On the Eyelid

Swelling on the eyelid refers to clear puffiness, inflammation or swelling that can be seen on the eyelid.

Swelling on the eyelid becomes a symptom of puffy eyes when certain conditions, such as chalazion or allergies, cause the eyelid to become inflamed and irritated, creating a puffy appearance of the upper eyelid.

3. Swelling Around the Orbitals

Swelling around the orbitals refers to clear inflammation and swelling of the wide area of skin located under the eyes, known as the orbitals. Swelling around the orbitals is also known as periorbital oedema.

Swelling around the orbitals becomes a symptom of puffy eyes when the skin under the eye is inflamed by either allergies or other conditions or there is an excessive amount of fluid that has been retained under the eye due to lack of sleep, crying, smoking or too much salt in a diet.

4. Bags Under the Eye

Bags under the eyes refer to a lighter appearance of swelling or bloating in the skin under the eyes. Bags under the eyes are also simply known as eye bags.

Bags under the eyes become a symptom of puffy eyes when the soft tissue, fat and muscles around the eye weaken, causing the fat to shift into the lower eyelids, causing a puffy appearance. Bags under the eyes are also caused by fluids gathering into the area of skin under the eyes.

5. Saggy or Loose Skin

Saggy or loose skin refers to skin around and under the eyes becoming loose, stretched or wrinkled, which can exacerbate symptoms of periorbital puffiness. Cases of excess skin on the eyelids is known as dermatochalasis which can obstruct one’s superior visual field.

Saggy or loose skin is a symptom of puffy eyes by fat moving into the skin under the eyelid and causing the skin to appear stretched and saggy, or by an excess of fluid being retained in the skin under the eyes, causing a puffy appearance that may also make the skin appear sagging or loose.

What are the Puffy Eyes Complications?

Complications of puffy eyes can include limited vision if the puffiness or swelling worsens. It is important to seek medical attention if puffy eyes begin to affect your vision.

How and Where can Puffy Eyes be Diagnosed?

Puffy eyes are diagnosed by an eyecare professional (optometrist or ophthalmologist) checking the skin under the eyes for swelling and excessive fluid. During the testing, an eyecare professional may examine the level of swelling and assess whether the eye is itchy, dry, sensitive or inflamed, and if relevant, will address the root of the puffiness if it results from other eye conditions.

Where Can You Seek Puffy Eyes Diagnosis?

Puffy eyes can be diagnosed by a professional eye health expert, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

What are the Treatments Available for Puffy Eyes?

The treatments available for puffy eyes include nonsurgical cosmetic treatments, cosmetic surgery, changes to lifestyle, home remedies and over-the-counter medications. These are also effective swelling under eye treatments. The following are treatments of puffy eyes.

Non Surgical Cosmetic Treatments: Non surgical cosmetic treatments for treating puffy eyes involve using injections and chemical peels in order to reduce puffiness and sagging skin around the eyes.
Cosmetic surgery: Cosmetic surgery for treating puffy eyes involves using invasive surgical procedures in order to treat the skin around and under the eyes.
Changes to lifestyle: Changes to lifestyle treats puffy eyes by removing the possible causes of the eyes swelling or sources of eye inflammation.
Home remedies: Home remedies for treating puffy eyes involve action such as placing ice packs over the eyes. and using natural remedies to reduce puffiness and swelling.
Over-the-counter medications: over-the-counter medications for treating puffy eyes involve taking antihistamine medication for allergies or, using creams to reduce puffiness around the eyes.

1. Non Surgical Cosmetic Treatments

Non Surgical cosmetic treatments for puffy eyes include laser resurfacing, filler treatments for the skin under the eyes and chemical peels applied to the face.

Non Surgical cosmetic treatments for puffy eyes are effective for treating puffy eyes but may not be suitable for everyone. Some treatments may have unknown or clear side effects after the treatment and should only be performed after consulting an expert's opinion.

Non Surgical cosmetic treatments may treat puffy eyes in a variety of ways. Laser resurfacing can treat puffy eyes by tightening wrinkly, loose and saggy skin. This helps prevent fluid from moving under loose and weakened muscles. Filler treatments, or a dermal filler, treats puffy eyes by injecting substances such as hyaluronic acid into the skin around the eyes, which makes the skin look younger and less wrinkled and adding volume to the area. Chemical peels remove the top layer of the skin, bringing newer, tighter skin forward for a better, less puffy appearance.

Non Surgical cosmetic treatments for puffy eyes should have clear and immediate effectiveness as soon as the treatment is applied. Chemical peels for treating puffy eyes may take a day or more to show the desired results.

2. Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery for puffy eyes involves invasive and possibly permanent surgical treatments for the skin around and under the eyes. Excessive skin above the eyelids can be removed with cosmetic surgery by a plastic surgeon or an oculoplastics surgeon. Please see your eye care professional or GP for evaluation prior to consideration.

3. Changes to Lifestyle

Changes to lifestyle for puffy eyes include consuming less salt and salty meals, quitting smoking, getting better sleep or keeping to a more consistent sleep schedule, avoiding medications that may cause inflammation and avoiding pollen and other possible allergens. Before undergoing any lifestyle changes, it is important to consult an eyecare professional as this may not be the right choice for some people.

Lifestyle changes help to treat puffy eyes by removing any possible cause for the eyes to become swollen. By avoiding salty foods or not smoking, the body undergoes less fluid retention under the eyes, according to Verywellhealth, a global research body of over 150 medical professionals. Better sleep and a better sleep schedule treats puffy eyes by letting muscles and soft tissue of the eyes rest, keeping them strong and allowing them to prevent excess fluids from moving under the eyes.

Changes to lifestyle as a treatment for puffy eyes are long-term and should be continually practiced until they are no longer effective. The effectiveness of lifestyle changes can vary but most importantly will take consistency, compliance and time to see the best results.

4. Home Remedies

Home remedies for puffy eyes include methods such as using a cold compress, such as a cold wet cloth and applying slight pressure to the skin under the eyes, drinking tea for its anti-swelling qualities or placing tea bags over the eyes, placing cucumbers over the eyes and sleeping with the head slightly elevated.

The evidence for home remedies can vary and is limited to address the cause. It is recommended to speak to an eye health professional before attempting any home remedies.

Home remedies might help to treat puffy eyes in a variety of ways. Using a cold compress to treat puffy eyes reduces the size of the blood vessels around the eyes. Drinking black or green tea for puffy eyes, or placing tea bags over the eyes, gives the body tannins, caffeine and flavonoids that may help to reduce swelling. Placing cucumbers over the eyes helps to treat puffy eyes by moisturizing the area they are placed over, and applying cucumber juice that contains antioxidants, folic acids and vitamins that may reduce the puffiness of the eyes. Sleeping with the head slightly elevated helps to treat puffy eyes by reducing the amount of fluids that can gather underneath the eyes overnight.

The time home remedies take to treat puffy eyes depends on the method used ranging from days to a few weeks. A cold compress, tea bags over the eyes or cucumbers for puffy eyes should help reduce the eyes swelling in a day or two. Drinking tea to treat puffy eyes may take a few weeks to see results, and may be better as a prevention measure. Sleeping with the head slightly elevated to treat puffy eyes may show results the morning after it is done.

5. Over-the-counter Medications

Over-the-counter medications for puffy eyes involve treating the eye conditions that may be causing a swelling or inflammation of the eyes, such as eye allergies or using over-the-counter creams, oils and other solutions.

No matter the medication used or prescribed, it is vital that a health care professional’s expertise is sought before purchasing or using any form of medication.

Medications help to treat puffy eyes by directly addressing or fixing the causes of inflammation, such as using antihistamine medications.

The aim of the medications are to treat eye inflammation and to reduce itchiness. If swelling or puffiness continues, an eye health professional should be sought for a more intensive diagnosis.

How are Puffy Eyes Prevented?

Puffy eyes can be prevented by taking such actions as consuming less salt and meals high in salt in a daily diet, getting better rest, drinking less liquids before going to sleep or placing a cold compress over the affected areas of the eye.

Is the Use of Eyewear Advised for Puffy Eyes?

Eyewear does not reduce swelling or prevent any of the root causes of puffy eyes. Eyeglasses will not help puffy eyes, however, a pair of oversized sunglasses that suit the wearer will compliment the wearer's face shape as well as cover the swollen or baggy eyed area, creating a better appearance.

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