A number of puffy eyes treatments are available. Most puffy eyes treatments are home remedies and use items a person may have in her refrigerator or kitchen, such teabags or cucumbers. More drastic treatments for puffy eyes include surgery or eyelid lifts. In some cases, puffiness is caused by nasal congestion or a lack of sleep, so remedying the cause is the best type of treatment.
Common kitchen and food items serve as effective puffy eyes treatments. Items that are cold, such as chilled spoons, cucumber slices or used teabags, can help reduce swelling around the eyes. Cold temperatures help bring down puffiness, just as it helps reduce swelling from an injury or bruise.
Teabags contain other ingredients that help treat puffy eyes. Green or black teas contain caffeine, which helps restrict blood vessels when applied to the eye area. Chamomile tea contains anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce irritation. When used as puffy eyes treatments, the teabags should be chilled and used. A dry teabag won't be effective and a hot teabag will burn the delicate eye area.
Some of the best puffy eyes treatments are determining the cause of the puffiness and treating the cause. A lack of sleep can lead to puffy eyes in some people. Getting adequate sleep, at least seven hours a night, can reduce swelling in many people. Sleeping flat can also lead to fluid accumulation in the under-eye area. A person with puffy eyes who usually sleeps flat on her back may wish to add another pillow to elevate her head so that fluid doesn't pool in the eye area.
Allergies and nasal congestion also occasionally lead to under-eye puffiness. The best treatment for puffy eyes caused by allergies is to remove or avoid the allergen. A person who is allergic to pet dander, for example, should keep pets out of the bedroom area. If dust causes an allergic reaction, a person should be sure to wash the bedsheets weekly and to keep the bedroom and other areas of the house free of items that collect dust. Over the counter or prescription allergy medications may help alleviate allergy symptoms.
Puffy eyes that do not respond to other treatments can be treated with surgery. During a blepharoplasty, a doctor cuts into the skin of the lower eyelid and removes any excess fat that has accumulated under the eye. In some cases, the doctor may tuck the skin of the lower eyelid as well to reduce the appearance of sagging. Blepharoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure.