Most people will have puffy eyes at some point in their lives, and most causes of this, health practitioners say, are not serious. However, consulting an expert to rule out any health problems can help prevent complications that may occur.

Puffy eyes are normally due to ageing, genetics, and possibly lack of sleep.

Also, puffy eyes are a common symptom of allergy, infection, inflammation, and physical irritation.

According to Dr Francis Kazungu, a general practitioner in Kigali, puffy eyes most of the time result from excess fluid (oedema) in the soft tissues surrounding the eyes.

He says puffy eyes can also occur in conditions affecting the eye area itself or in association with more generalised conditions, such as a common cold.

Lack of enough sleep can also cause puffy eyes. Photo/Net

Dr Kazungu says it’s also essential to note that in most cases, people might confuse swollen eyelids for puffy eyes.

He explains that although swollen and puffy are used interchangeably, there is a difference, noting that puffy eyes usually refer to the appearance of eyes from water retention, lack of sleep, or inherited traits like dark circles under the eyes.

On the other hand, swollen eyes or eyelids are caused by an inflammatory response to an allergen, infection, or injury.

Marie Ann Niyonizeye, a nurse at Clinic Galien, says puffy eyes typically occur as one ages, but studies also reveal that a few other common causes include genetics, allergies, fluid retention, and an unhealthy diet.

She says that inflammation of the surface of the eye (conjunctivitis) and the eyelids are common causes of puffy eyes.

Niyonizeye says other common causes among people include, crying, lack of sleep, or excessive rubbing of the eyes.

Depending on the cause, the nurse says one or both eyes may be swollen and red, painful, itchy, with excessive tear production, or other types of discharge from the affected eyes.

 "When you have puffy eyes suddenly, it might be a sign that one has an underlying medical problem,” she says.

Consuming too much salt can also cause puffy eyes. Photo/Net

According to nutritionists, some lifestyles can also bring about puffy eyes.

These include; irregular sleep, sleeping too much or too little can make a person’s body retain fluids, and consuming too much salt as a diet rich in salt can make the body retain more fluids.

Also, drinking too much alcohol can lead to dehydration, explaining that when a person frequently drinks a lot of alcohol, it can cause fluid retention, leading to puffy eyes.

How to go about it

As the skin ages, it becomes increasingly thinner and weaker, which can cause the fat in the upper eyelid to fall and rest in the lower eyelid. It’s also more common for fluid to become trapped in the lower eyelid area as we age.

Dr Kazungu says some lifestyle changes can work as remedies for puffy eyes. This, he says, include increasing water intake, limiting sodium, using a cold compress, and avoiding alcohol, among others.

He goes on to note that many temporary remedies may help reduce the appearance of puffy eyes, such as using eye drops to relieve any irritation.

From different studies, drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration as well as applying iced compresses if the eyelids look puffy can help. Also, try applying cucumber slices or chilled tea bags over closed eyes.

Eating potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, will help eliminate excess fluids in the body.