Why are my eyes always puffy when I wake up in the morning? Also why do my eyelids look swollen when I wake up as well?

Question

Even If I get a goodnight sleep I always wake up with puffy and baggy eyes and my Eyelids also look swollen. Even If I take naps in the afternoon I wake up the same way. What is the cause of this and are there any treatments?

Frank P. Fechner, MD · Answer

Fluid shifts happen at night while sleeping. In the morning, the eyelid tissues will harbor some additional fluids which will present itself as a mild swelling. This usually normalizes after an hour or so. There are conditions which excessive chronic swelling of the lids but what you are describing appears within normalcy.

Ryan Neinstein, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Thanks for the question, this is a very common way patients come to the office seeking surgery, the puffiness is usally fat sticking out from inside the eye where normally its tucked in tight, swelling can be do to excess skin or muscle or fluid collecting in the muscle and skin, see a local surgeon for treatment options

Robert J. Paresi Jr., MD, MPH · Answer

Thanks for the question.  Swelling around the eyes is multifactorial.  Most commonly, when it is present in the morning it is related to gravity.  When we stand we drain the fluid from our face via lymphatics, or channels that drain the fluid from the facial area.  When we are lying down at night, gravity does not facilitate this drainage, hence the additional swelling when we wake up in the AM.  Swelling around the eyes can also be related to allergies if they are seasonal in nature.  Some patients respond to a course of over the counter antihistamines to reduce the swelling around the eyes.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The puffy eyelids that you're experiencing in the mornings occur from normal fluid shift in the body from laying down to standing up. Picture allergies were under control along with a low-salt diet. Eyelid surgery was performed when this has  become more permanent.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Are you talking about recently after eyelid surgery?  This is common. Otherwise, there are many reasons why patients can have puffy eyes.

Marc Cohen, MD (retired) · Answer

Fluid tends to collect in the face (especially around the eyes) in the morning.  When you sleep your head is down so gravity is part of the problem.  In addition you do not move your facial muscles as much when you sleep and the action of those muscles helps pump away excess fluid.  Many people who swell a lot have ocular allergies.  Do you're eyes tend to itch?  If so allergies are likely part of the problem.  There are great drops to help with allergies, I would discuss this with your eye doctor.  A specific type of allergy that is a particularly common cause of morning swelling is an allergy to dust mites.  Dust mites live in our bedding and cause a lot of eye irritation.  These are most easily controlled by getting dust mite covers (they zipper over the pillow and below your pillow case).  They are easy to find online and can also be purchased and Bed Bath and Beyond. Hope this helps.

Why are my eyes always puffy when I wake up in the morning? Also why do my eyelids look swollen when I wake up as well?

Answers (6)

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