Swollen Eye without discharge

[SuburbanHippie]

DS (3 years old) came to me yesterday after lunch time and one of his eyelids was getting puffy. Neither of his eyes were red though. He rubbed the one puffy eye a little bit. When he woke up from his nap, it was considerably more swollen, yet still not red. I squirted the couple of drops of breast milk I could muster up in his eye thinking it was an eye infection.

This morning it is completely swollen shut, but the other eye is fine. The other eye isn't red and there is no discharge from either. The swollen eyelid is a little pink on the outside so maybe he was rubbing it before he got up.

Any suggestions on what I should do? It doesn't seem to bother him this morning. He hasn't been rubbing it or anything. I don't even think he realizes yet that one of his eyes is swollen shut.

As a teen, I had two instances where I rubbed my eyes and got some germ in there and they swelled up. It took a day for them to heal themselves and then I was fine. I wonder if this is the same. DH is freaking out though so I thought I would post.

[teachma]

My first guesses are either a spider bite or other allergic reaction (I have many allergies, and if I rub my eye with a hand that's been in contact with an allergen, this happens to me). If you feel like medicating, you can try Benedryl. I think after 2-3 days, it should correct itself whether it's an allergy or insect bite.

[Otto]

If I may channel my last opthamology visit, use warm compresses every four hours for 10 minutes. For wet compresses, moisten the cloth with baby shampoo and use gentle side-to-side motion. For dry compresses (the microwaved-rice-in-a-nylon technique), just hold it still. If the condition doesn't resolve promptly--or turns into a stye or chalazion--have it looked at. (Never try to drain a stye by squeezing, as this can permanently affect the shape of the eyelid.)

[SuburbanHippie]

I did end up giving him some Benadryl. I'm not a fan of using medication, but I was wondering if it was an allergic reaction. It wasn't. The swelling has gone down on its own. It's still puffy, but I expect it to fine by morning.

Thanks all!