Swollen Eye Bag

[alejandro200]

I have been experiencing dryness and itchiness around my left eye off and on for over a year, which I figured was due to my allergies. The past couple of days it was itching a lot, and I probably rubbed it too much, and it felt very bruised and swollen around the outer lower edge of my eye, as if I had been punched there or something.

Last night I also experienced twitching in my left inner eyebrow muscle, which I've never had before. This morning I woke up, and the entire bag under my eye is really puffy and swollen, and looks terrible. It hurts when I blink, not a sharp pain, but a swollen, bruised pain.

Anybody have any thoughts on what the problem is, and what I can do to fix it? It could be I have had more stress lately. I have to speak in front of a lot of people tomorrow. Maybe I should wear an eyepatch.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[alejandro200]

Thank you for your reply. I went to the doctor today and he said it seemed too swollen to be pink eye and thought it was an infection that stemmed from allergies. He prescribed an antibiotic eye-drop and antibiotic pills.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Do not put on an eyepatch, it could make it much worse. Use warm, moist eye compresses for 5-10 minutes every couple of hours. See if you can see an ophthalmologist tomorrow if it doesn't get better over 24 hrs.

JCH MD