Puffiness of eyes and deep circles

[Skaff]

When I wake up in the morning my eyes are puffy with deep circles under them.  Im only 22, and have never had problems with eye circles or any puffiness, this started gradually two months ago.  I get enough sleep at night but am generally tired throughout the day and my eyes feel heavy.  I over wore a pair of contacts, but got new ones, thinking that might be the cause but it hasn't changed much at all. I did have a cold that lasted for two weeks about a month before this started.   During the cold I rubbed my eye while sleeping and woke up with it red the next morning, but that went away, Im not sure if it might be associated in any way with how they are now.

My eyes water at night before I go to sleep and water when I wake up.  Sometimes they itch and burn, but not often.   Im thinking that I might have dry eye, I looked it up yesterday.  I didn't see anything about it causing circles and puffiness though....this has really depressed me, my face looks completely different now.  Im hoping that it's not permanent.  

When I got my new contacts I had a complete eye exam and the docter said my eyes looked good.  I didn't ask him if my eyes had any infection or anything else wrong with them, I just assumed this would go away with new contacts but it hasn't. I thought he would have said something if he noticed any sort of infection or any other problems but now im not sure.

If anyone has any advice of what I should do or what this may be, I would truly appreciate it.

[Forum-OD-MP]

having "deep circles" under your eyes is usually not related to whether or not you wear contacts, or how old the contacts are, or whether or not your eyes itch or water or feel dry.

It is usually related to either the quality or quantity of your sleep (even if you sleep enough hours, you might not be getting the right TYPE of sleep), or it is caused by prolapsed orbital fat.

Try cold compresses in the morning, and making sure you sleep well.  If after a few weeks there is NO improvement, you likely have prolapsed orbital fat, which is certainly not dangerous, but would only be resolved with surgery.

[RunningL8]

Based on your description of the problem, I'm 99% sure you have an allergies.  Even if you haven't had allergies in the past, allergies can develop at any time and will make you very tired.  So ideally you should see an allergist soon, and if he/she suggests allergy testing, an antihistamine, anti-allergy eye drops, and/or regular allergy shots, you should do that; you don't want to let allergies go on for years, or the blood vessels beneath your eyes can dilate permanently (and then you really can't get rid of the dark circles/puffiness).  In the meantime, Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex does a good job of reducing dark circles/puffiness if you use it regularly.

[RunningL8]

As a more positive p.s. to my last note:  I am 20 years older than you, but my own dark circles/puffiness look a lot better than they did 10 years ago (since I treated my own allergies); so don't despair--you are young enough that you can turn the situation around....