Your eyes are the most expressive feature on your face. When people look at you, they see your eyes first. It only makes sense to want your eyes to look as good as they possible can. There are lots of things that you can do to make sure you get the most complete eye care possible. Here are a few causes of puffy eyes, and what optometrists agree are the best methods you can use to get them looking their best again:

What Causes Puffy Eyes?

For most people, swelling around your eyes comes from excessive amount of fluids in the tissue surrounding your eyes. This is called periorbital edema. There are many reasons why your eyes may get puffy. Here are a few of the most common causes of puffy eyes:

Lack of Sleep

If you suffer from insomnia, or other sleep deprivation, your eyes will show it. Puffy eyes definitely show the signs of a disturbed sleeping cycle. If you tend to oversleep, you may also experience mild puffiness in your eyes. Making sure to get the right amount of sleep at night (7-8 hours) will help both your body and your eyes stay fresh and bright.

Excess Salt In Your Diet

If you like eating salty foods, it may be the cause for your puffy eyes. Too much salt in your diet causes your body to retain fluids, including around your eyes. Changing your diet to include less salt will help to reduce water retention. Combined with regular exercise, eating the right foods is a good part of complete eye care as well as your overall body health.

Improper Eye Glasses

Wearing the wrong type of eyewear could cause your eyes to suffer. If you haven’t had your designer eyewear prescription updated in a while, you could not only suffer from puffy, irritated eyes, you could also be causing long-term damage to your eyes. It’s important for your most complete eye care to see an optometrist or other vision eye care professional on a regular basis.

Allergies

Allergic reactions to certain irritants can cause your eyes to puff up. Pollutants such as smoke, pollen, animal hair, and makeup can cause itchy watery eyes, as well as puffiness around them. As these irritants contact your eyes, your body responds by sending more blood to the capillaries in your eyes, which causes swelling and inflammation.

What Can You Do About Puffy Eyes?

There are plenty of things you can do to help relieve puffy eyes. Many common household items have natural anti-inflammatory properties that you can use to soothe puffy eyes. For the best and most complete eye care possible, you should take care of your puffy eyes as soon as possible. Here are a few remedies you can use right away to help heal your eyes:

As Cool as a Cucumber

There’s a reason why day spas show you picture of clients lying down with cucumbers on their eyes. Cucumbers contain natural enzymes that help reduce inflammation in your eyes. As a bonus, they also can help tighten the skin around your eyes. Simply slice a cucumber into slices 1/8 – 1/4″ thick. Chill them in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, then lay back, relax, and apply them to your eyes. Leave them on until they feel warm, usually after 15-20 minutes.

A Spot of Tea For Your Eyes

Whether you enjoy a cup of tea every now and then or are an everyday tea drinker, ordinary tea bags are great for your eye care. Tea leaves contain ingredients that help reduce swelling in your eyes and help soothe any irritation or inflammation in your eyes. Moisten two tea bags, put them in the fridge to cool down, and then apply them to your closed eyelids. Leave them on for at least 10 minutes for the best effect.

A Cold Spoon for Fast Eye Care

If you don’t have tea bags or cucumbers laying around, you can easily treat your puffy eyes with a few cold spoons. Put a handful of spoons into your fridge for a little while. Then place them on your eyelids for a few minutes. The cold from the spoons will help relax the blood vessels in your eyes as it tightens the skin around your eyes. It’s a quick fix that people have long used to help relieve puffy eyes in a hurry.

Speak With Your Optometrist for Complete Eye Care

For the best and most complete eye care possible, it is best to see your optometrist or vision care professional at least once per year. In the Venice area, you can see the expert eye care professionals at Hoff Optometry. With their guidance on complete eye care, your eyes will be healthier, and you will see clearer than ever before.