The symptoms include burning, itching, watery discharge that is often thick and is accompanied by nasal discharge and other allergic symptoms. There are many causes and types of ocular allergies. Eczema refers to an allergic eyelid inflammation, with redness, vesicles, crusts, oozing, scales, and itching of the lids. Psoriasis and seborrhea dermatitis are related conditions. Allergic lid edema may be part of a systemic allergic reaction to drugs, bacteria or parasites, food such as shellfish, or generalized urticaria or angioneurotic edema.
Many patients give a history of eating shrimp and then the eyes swell.
Insect bite, ultra violet exposure or sunlamp, contact with irritants can lead to severe eyelid swelling. Because of the thinness and laxity of the skin of the lids, this swelling may be more extreme than in other parts of the body, but is usually benign and will respond to appropriate treatment. Contact Dermatoconjuncticviatis involves the conjunctiva and the surrounding skin. It is often secondary to eyedrops or cosmetics. Neomycin-containing preparations are the most commonly implicated ophthalmic antibiotics.