Eyelid swollen and red

[bibbidybobbedyboop]

Just one of my eyelids, towards the inner eye, has been swollen / puffy and red for about 3 weeks now. It is a bit tender to touch. It seemed to get better for a few days last week but has worsened again.

Would you be going back to the GP or try to persist with antihistamines?

It is driving me mad and I’m worrying that it does not seem to be going away. (Eyes look normal - white, no redness or discharge.)

GP thought possible allergic reaction when it started so I’ve tried antihistamines (about 10 days of cetirizine then a break and started again recently with loratadine) accompanied by sodium chromoglicinate eyedrops.

I had sinusitis in June (severe, slept most of day and night for 3 days) and tonsillitis in July (mild), both of which needed treatment with antibiotics. Bit fed up of it!

It's understandable you feel fed up. That sounds sore.

I would go back to the GP as there has been no improvement after three prescribed courses of treatment, plus two courses of (unrelated prescription) antibiotics since the onset of symptoms.

https://www.visionexpress.com/eye-health/eyelids
You could also attend an optometrist for for an eye health exam as they can provide this service or ask your GP for a dermatology referral if the problem persists.

Hope it clears up soon and you feel better.

Thank you. It’s minor so I don’t want to make a fuss but it is also annoying and not going away.

It may be ‘minor’ but eyes are so important. It seems a bit unusual for an allergy to just affect one eye (I’ve recently had an eye problem, that’s what the doctor at the eye clinic told me). It’s best to go to an optometrist for eye issues in the first instance. That’s what 111 told me to do, and our GP told DH to do when he started with a problem earlier in the year - GPs don’t really do eyes, according to ours!

Just call an opticians and ask - I used a specsavers.

You're welcome.

I think we are all so aware of demands on services we seek ways to manage or minimise health concerns rather than be a bother. Wellness is important though and even minor ailments need attention.

It is not making a fuss to make a non-urgent appointment for a minor but unresolved condition. Call your doctor's practice for a phone consultation, if they offer them, and explain it is unresolved and ask them what they advise or pop in to the minor ailments service with a pharmacist.

Hopefully you can get it treated and resolved soon. 💐

It might be blepharitis. I'd also try the optician as they have the right equipment to check your eye and eyelid.

Can you post a picture? An allergy is unlikely to be the cause if it's only affecting one part of one eyelid, it's more likely to be a chalazion or hordeolum (or something else)

Again, unilateral blepharitis is very unusual.

Thank you, I will look into this.