Why do I have pink eyelids?

Pink eyelids are quite a common eye symptom and could be a sign of a variety of eye issues.

The 6 most common pink eyelid issues are listed below.

1. Contact lens issues

Pink eyelids can be caused by issues with contact lenses. These include wearing dirty contact lenses, wearing your contact lenses whilst swimming, or wearing your contact lenses for a long period of time. It’s important to keep your contact lenses clean and monitor the condition of your eyes whilst wearing them in order to prevent a pink eyelid and further infection.

2. Stye

A stye is a red and small bump which occurs on the edge of your eyelid. It’s caused by an infected gland. This could be the source of your pink eyelid. Other symptoms include eyelid swelling, pain in the eyelid, discomfort surrounding the eye, a sensation of something in your eye, tearing and sensitivity to light.

Most styes will heal themselves in a week; however, you should keep your eyelid clean and apply warm, moist compresses to speed up the process. Contact your eye doctor if your stye worsens, doesn’t go away in a week or begins to affect your vision

3. Blepharitis

This condition involves inflammation of the eyelid. There are a variety of reasons this could occur including, rosacea, allergic reactions, and dermatitis. Additional symptoms may include crusty eyelid or lashes, burning, eyelid or general eye discomfort or pain, dry eyelid, eyelash loss, dry eye, grittiness, eyelid swelling, and stickiness. Treatment for this condition is easy with eyelid scrubs and medicated eyedrops.

4. Dacryoadenitis

A pink eyelid could indicate inflammation of the tear gland. This is typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms in addition to a pink eyelid include a dry eye, ptosis, and swelling of the lid or around the eyes.

5. Blepharoconjunctivitis

This is inflammation of the conjunctiva and eyelid. Allergic reactions and eye infection are the most common causes. Additional symptoms may include a pink eye, discomfort or pain of the eye or around the eye, burning, tearing, eye stickiness, and eye dryness.

6. Meibomianitis

A pink eyelid is also an indication of inflammation of the meibomian glands. The most common cause of this is rosacea. You may experience additional symptoms including a pink or red eye, burning, dryness, blurred vision, and a swollen eye.

When to see a doctor

If your symptoms persist, worsen, change, or you experience additional symptoms, it’s best to make an appointment with an eye doctor.