We include products that we believe will be useful to our readers. If you make a purchase through links on this site, we may receive a small commission.Here is our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our website. To verify that product manufacturers have met safety and efficacy standards, here's what we do:
- Evaluate ingredients and composition:Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact check for all health claims:Are they consistent with current scientific knowledge?
- Rate the brand:Do you operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We research so you can find trusted products for your health and well-being.
Read more about our verification process.
I'm not sure if it's fear or loneliness, but I've never cried so much in my life.

Before I hit the pause button on the world, I hadn't used many eye care products.
I never thought of putting cooling gel patches under my eyes every day. I was lucky not to have had treatment.dark circlesnot even for lack of sleep.
These days my watery eyes have become my number one skin problem.
i'm not sure if it isdistressor the cigarsoledadI've been feeling the way I am lately, but I've never cried so much in my life.
I wake up with my eyes so swollen that I have a hard time seeing out of them in the morning. My skin turns bright red and blotchy every time i start to douche, and the color doesn't fade until i apply a cooling gel or a bag of frozen peas to my face.
If you've also been on an emotional roller coaster lately, you know that crying is healthy.emotional release. Plus, there are easy ways to quickly reduce the swelling and redness around your eyes after crying.
I spoke to three eye care professionals to find out what happens when you cry and how to care for those overwhelmed eyes.
Believe it or not, there is a lot going on behind your eyes when you start to cry.
"When your eyes produce a lot of tears, the tear drainage system becomes overloaded and tears leak out of your eyes," he explains.rey hadley, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
Crying not only starts water problems, but can also cause redness around the eyes and sometimes all over the face.
"Because tears are made of our blood, the vessels that supply blood to our eyes can dilate or enlarge to allow more blood to reach the area; this can contribute to redness and swelling of the eyes, eyelids, and surrounding skin. ", says.jason brinton, MD, board-certified LASIK surgeon in St. Louis.
Fortunately, there are no long-term effects associated with it.Cry much, respectivelynikhil dhingra, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology in New York City.
"It can certainly dry out the eyes and cause mild irritation in the short term, as well as irritate the skin around the eyes, but neither of these effects should have lasting changes to the eyes or the skin around them," says Dhingra. .
If your eyes are watery even though you feel fine, you may want to talk to your doctor.
“Paradoxically, if the eye cries even without emotion, this may be a sign of it.dry eye syndromeBriton said.
Caffeine
you've probably seenCaffeineAs a popular ingredient in eye products, and for good reason: Caffeine is a natural vasoconstrictor, meaning it reduces the dilation that leads to puffy, bloodshot eyes.
"[Caffeine] reduces puffiness by reducing the amount of fluid entering the eye area," says Dhingra.
Dhingra suggestsSkincare Teamine Eye Complex Review, which contains caffeine to reduce swelling and reduce roughness.
king lovesThe usual 5% caffeine fix + EGCG, which contains highly soluble caffeine and green tea catechins to reduce dark spots and puffiness.
King also recommendsErste Hilfe Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy A.M. Gel-Crema, which contains peptides, seaweed extract and red algae extract to reduce fine lines and strengthen the skin barrier.
something cold
Anything that cools can also help to constrict blood vessels, further reducing redness and puffiness around the eyes, according to Brinton.
“We often advise patients to take frozen vegetables out of the freezer, wrap them in a paper towel, and place them over their closed eyes. Even the back of a spoon that has been placed in the freezer can be a relief," says Brinton.
Other natural ways to cool overheated eyes include cold tea bag compresses, chilled cucumbers, or teethers straight out of the fridge.
Tinted Cream
Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 de Colorscienceis another favorite of Dhingra. He helps relieve under-eye puffiness with ingredients likeJojoba,hyaluronic acid, Ypanthenol. It also masks any redness with a bit of tint (great when crying comes at the wrong time).
eye masks
Dhingra is also a fan ofWater Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches de Peter Thomas Rothconmalvavisco wurzeland caffeine
king lovesMASK Skincare's nourishing CBD eye patches. "[These patches] contain pumpkin seed extract to help decongest the eye area," King explains. "For additional reinforcement, the patches can be placed in the refrigerator before use."
face rolls
Facial rollers are always a good option to help tired eyes.
King recommends trying itJenny Patinkins Rose en Rose Face Roller Small, which is made of rose quartz and remains cold after chilling to constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling.
"The small size is perfect for use around the eye area," says King. "Gently rolling under the eyes from the midline to the sides can help reduce fluid buildup."
use your rollerwith slow, upward movements to favor the lifting effect, paying special attention to the area around the eyes and forehead, between the eyebrows and expression lines.
when nothing else works
If nothing else seems to be working, it may be time to talk to your doctor to see if an underlying problem is affecting your eyes.
Products containing potential irritants such as vitamin C, retinols, acid-based products, and witch hazel should be avoided under the eyes.
"Stimulating the area with something hard can increase swelling and redness," explains Dhingra.
hemorrhoid creamis a widely recommended product for reducing redness and swelling around the eye area, as phenylephrine has been reported to help constrict blood vessels and 1% hydrocortisone can temporarily reduce swelling.
But King argues against this, noting that some brands contain ingredients that "can cause injury if you accidentally get something in your eye and irritate the delicate skin around your eyes."
Brinton also advises against the regular use of eye drops to reduce redness, as these can become habitual. They can also cause increased redness and irritation of the eyes over time.
"These drops contain decongestant ingredients like tetrahydrozoline, pheniramine, and naphazoline, and we end up telling someone in our office every week to stop using these drops," she says.
"If they're used occasionally, like before a presentation or to take family photos, they're effective and probably fine," says Brinton. Just don't overdo it.
in these difficult timesshed tearsIt can help alleviate a lot of pain, sadness, and frustration, but you don't have to worry about the long-term effects.
While crying can often make your eyes temporarily puffy, red, or develop dark circles, using helpful products and ingredients can lessen results.
If one form of relief doesn't do your eyes much good, try another until you find one that works for you. And of course take care of yoursMental healthYSecuritybesides your tired eyes.
Daley Quinn is a Boston-based beauty and wellness journalist and content strategist. She is a former beauty editor at a national magazine and her work has been featured on sites like Allure, Well + Good, Byrdie, Fashionista, The Cut, WWD, Women's Health Mag, HelloGiggles, Shape, Elite Daily and more. You can see more of her work in it.website.
FAQs
What really works for tired eyes? ›
Apply a washcloth soaked in warm water to tired, dry eyes (keep your eyes closed). Use artificial tears to refresh your eyes when they feel dry. To help prevent dry eyes while indoors, use an air cleaner to filter dust and a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
What is the best natural remedy for tired eyes? ›Apply a Cold Compress
Known to decrease inflammation and reduce swollen spots, a cold compress can be just as effective as a warm cloth. Try brewing tea bags — chamomile, black, or green tea— and place them in your fridge. Once they're cool, lay down and place the tea bags over your eyes.
- Mix Eye Cream With Tinted Moisturizer.
- Use Sheer Shadow Instead of Liner.
- Groom Brows For a Lifted Appearance.
- Color Correct Dark Circles.
- Use a Concealer.
- Avoid Black Eyeliner.
- Curl Your Lashes.
- Widen Eyes With a Lengthening Mascara.
- Vitamin A (and beta carotene) Vitamin A is absolutely essential for vision, Johnson says. ...
- Vitamin E. Vitamin E is also essential for eye health. ...
- Vitamin C. ...
- Zinc. ...
- Omega-3 fatty acids.
Eyestrain can be annoying. But it usually isn't serious, and it goes away once you rest your eyes or take other steps to reduce your eye discomfort. In some cases, symptoms of eyestrain can indicate an underlying eye condition that needs treatment.
What vitamin deficiency causes tired eyes? ›Symptoms of Vitamin B Deficiencies
Vitamin B2, B3, and B6 deficiencies are associated with dry eyes and eye infections in the front of the eye. Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with pernicious anemia and may cause retinal bleeding, destruction of nerve tissue, and lead to permanent vision loss.
Being deficient in Vitamin D can also have a negative impact on eye health. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, dry eye syndrome and impaired tear function.
Are there eye drops that help with tired eyes? ›VISINE® Dry Eye Relief Tired Eye Lubricant Eye Drops can start to relieve tired, dry eyes in seconds with a moisturizing formula containing Polyethylene glycol 400 that soothes and revives overworked eyes from too much screen time, one of the causes of dry & tired eyes.
What is the most important vitamin for eyes? ›Vitamins A, C, and E and other nutrients like beta carotene, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids are linked to a lower risk of developing severe eye disease. The best way to get these vitamins is by eating a well-balanced diet.
Why are my eyes so tired all the time? ›Tired eyes can have many different causes, including lack of sleep, overuse and reduced blinking. When we concentrate on a task, we tend to blink less. As blinking refreshes and moistens the eyes, they become dry and tired without it. Symptoms of tired eyes include soreness, red eyes and blurry vision.
Why are my eyes tired but not my brain? ›
The most common cause of tired eyes is that they've been used to complete tasks that have strained the muscles. This is often a side effect of using electronic devices for prolonged periods. It's particularly inadvisable to concentrate on mobile phone screens or other technology late at night.
What are the signs around your eyes of B12 deficiency? ›Disturbed or blurred vision can also occur as a result of a Vitamin B12 deficiency. This happens when the deficiency causes damage to the optic nerve that leads to your eyes. The nervous signal that travels from the eye to the brain is disturbed due to this damage, leading to impaired vision.
Can too much vitamin D cause eye problems? ›"Taking some vitamin D is OK for an aging population," says Sporny, "but too much vitamin D can cause damage to blood vessels, eye tissue and kidneys."
Can vitamin D deficiency cause tired eyes? ›Dry eyes could be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. When the eyes become dry as a result of low vitamin D levels, it may also become more difficult to produce tears. The eyes might feel gritty, sore or itchy and vision could become blurred. The eyes may also be more sensitive to light than normal.
What pills are good for dry eyes? ›Medicines called cholinergics (pilocarpine, cevimeline) help increase tear production. These medicines are available as pills, gels or eye drops. Possible side effects include sweating.
What should we eat for good eyes? ›- Carrots. Carrots contain beta-carotene, which the body uses to make vitamin A. ...
- Kale. Dark green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach and broccoli are rich in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which are present in high concentrations in the retina. ...
- Red peppers. ...
- Salmon. ...
- Oysters.
A lack of sleep, exposure to strong light or sunshine, heating or air conditioning can make our eyes feel tired. Reading for extended periods of time, driving, or using a computer are other frequent causes of tired eyes. Within the eye is the ciliary muscle.