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What to Do If You Get a Mosquito Bite on Eyelid 

5 min read

Written byDanielle Stoken
Reviewed by Jovi Boparai, MD
Danielle StokenEye Health & Wellness ContributorPittsburgh, PA

Bio

I was so excited when I learned about CorneaCare and am honored to share content, tips and stories about dry eye! I am a certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative nutrition so the intersection of nutrition/lifestyle and dry eye disease is one that I am particularly passionate about. Since recently becoming a mom, I care even more about my eye care and self-care and am learning so much through CorneaCare's educational resources.

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: baking sourdough bread
Food: pasta
Superhero: my dad
Guilty pleasure: cold brew coffee (really, any coffee)
Secret power: serious facial recognition/recollection

Training:

Undergraduate: Carnegie Mellon University
Nutrition training: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Jovi Boparai, MD
Jovi Boparai, MDCo-founder & CEO of CorneaCarePhiladelphia, PA

Bio

Dry eye disease is tough! I get it. I have struggled with dry eyes for several years from contact lens use, and from spending countless hours looking at computer screens. In college, my dry eyes got so bad that I couldn’t wear contact lenses, because of a constant “foreign body sensation” when I had them in. I had to stop reading every 30 minutes because my eyes would start to burn and my vision would get blurry. I tried a plethora of treatments and nothing seemed to work. Dry eye disease was not only impacting my eyes, but also my emotional wellbeing. It was preventing me from enjoying life, and getting in the way of my professional training. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated and hopeless.

It was only when I realized that my dry eyes were linked to my lifestyle, environment and overall health did things start to make sense. I noticed that on days when I spent less time on the computer, my eyes felt better. My symptoms would flare when it was windy, or when there was low humidity. I knew that if I wanted to get ahead of my dry eyes, I needed to not only treat my eyes, but to also address my lifestyle. I started a consistent regimen of artificial tears and eyelid hygiene. I switched from monthly contact lenses to daily contact lenses. I started taking scheduled breaks from looking at a computer. I ate a healthier diet focused on anti-inflammatory/antioxidants foods, and I bought a humidifier for my room. In the beginning doing all this seemed impossible, but over time it became part of my usual routine. Not only did my eyes feel better, but I was overall healthier and happier! Turns out what is good for my eyes, was also good for my mind and body. I carried this lesson with me as I started my career to become an ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon.

Because of my personal journey and professional training, I believe dry eye treatment starts by listening to and empowering the patient. I listen for the struggles and cue in on their strengths, while picking up on their lifestyle. Only then do we together start building a treatment plan that incorporates good eye hygiene with small, but impactful lifestyle changes. Our sight is our most important sense, and it is intimately linked to our very being. I want dry eye patients to not only get their dry eyes under control, but to also enjoy good mental and physical health, and live a fulfilling life. What is good for the eyes should also strengthen the mind and fortify the body!

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: vintage watches
Food: peanut butter
Superhero: Superman
Guilty pleasure: desserts
Secret power: has never had a headache

Training:

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh Honors College
Medical school: Weill Cornell Medicine
Ophthalmology residency: Wills Eye Hospital.

What to Do If You Get a Mosquito Bite on Eyelid 

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Table of Contents

Everything You Need to Know about a Mosquito Bite on the Eyelid

Ah, summer. The season most people love because of the long days, sunshine, trips to the pool, and warm nights. But with summer comes all of the bugs from their winter hiding places. 

One of the most pervasive insects is the seemingly frail mosquito. For most people, a mosquito bite on the eyelid or other part of the body is irritating at best for a few days. But these little flies (the literal Spanish translation) kill over 1 million people yearly due to the diseases they carry, making them the world’s deadliest insect.¹  

Luckily, mosquito-borne illnesses are relatively low in the United States, as only 12 of the over 200 species of mosquitoes spread germs that make people sick.¹

For awareness of how bug bites affect the eyes, this article explains what happens if you get a mosquito bite on your eyelid, how to know it’s not something else, and what to do to get relief from the irritation.

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    Key Points

    • Getting a mosquito bite on your eyelid is typically not a very serious eye injury. 
    • Some groups, like young children and people with compromised immune systems, may experience more intense symptoms.
    • You can usually treat a bug bite on your eyelid quickly and easily at home. 

    Keywords

    Antihistamines, bug bite, cold compress, eye injury, eyelid hygiene, eyelid wipes

    What happens when a mosquito bites you

    Maybe you’ve been bitten hundreds of times by mosquitoes but aren’t really sure why they cause the reaction they do in your body. 

    Mosquitoes are blood-sucking flies. They use the pointy part of their mouth called a proboscis to suck blood from their victim.² Sounds a little Dracula-like, right?

    When they bite and begin sucking blood, they inject some of their saliva into the skin. The saliva is what causes your body to react by swelling and itching.² 

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    How to Know If You Have a Mosquito Bite On Your Eyelid

    Most of us know what it feels like when a mosquito leaves its mark. But, when it comes to your eyes, you may not expect the bite to occur in that area and associate it with other eye conditions. 

    If you’re concerned at all about unusual symptoms on your eyelids or the surrounding area, always consult with your eye doctor. They will rule out other eye conditions and determine if a bug bite is really the culprit. 

    Signs and Symptoms

    With a mosquito bite, you’ll start to experience symptoms within minutes to a few hours after being bitten. 

    When it comes to your eyelids, the skin is a bit more delicate, so you may experience more widespread swelling than you would on other parts of your body:²

    • Small to medium-sized red bump within minutes after the bite
    • Swollen eyelid
    • Itching ranging from mild to intense
    • Hard, red, or brownish bump a day or so after the bite
    • Eventually, the bite spot may look like a blister with minimal itching

    Rest

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    Possible complications from mosquito bites on your eyelids

    Everyone has different reactions to bug bites. For some, a mosquito bite on the eyelid may trigger an allergic reaction, leading to intense swelling, red eyes, and pain. If you expose the bite area by scratching your skin, you could develop a bacterial infection, commonly referred to as cellulitis.³

    Rare cases of mosquito bites can lead to more serious, widespread symptoms all over your body. If you are aware of mosquito disease outbreaks in your area, you should immediately see a doctor for medical advice. 

    Pediatric mosquito bites and child symptoms

    Young children may experience bug bites and stings differently than adults. Because they have “young” immune systems, a mosquito bite may trigger a low grade fever, hives or swollen lymph nodes, in addition to eye swelling and itching.² 

    When it’s not a mosquito bite: Similar eye problems

    Suppose you don’t live in an area with a large mosquito population or haven’t been outdoors and developed similar symptoms to those above. In that case, you may be suffering from another eye condition or infection. 

    Eye problems like styes and chalazion, and dry eyes result in similar symptoms, though with these conditions, bumps will typically appear on the eyelid margin near the eyelashes. 

    Key symptoms of dry eye disease

    Treating a bug bite on your eyelid

    You can follow a few simple home remedies for most eyelid insect bites to manage symptoms. If you or your child develops more severe symptoms around your eyes or other parts of your body, seek medical attention immediately to ensure the mosquito didn’t transmit a disease.

    Clean the area

    Use a clean cloth with mild soap or an eyelid wipe like CorneaCare’s Rise wipe to gently clean the area and prevent bacteria from entering the wound.² 

    You can continue cleaning or wiping the eyelids once or twice a day until the bite irritation disappears. 

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    Cold compress

    A cold compress on your eyelids may help reduce swelling and provide cooling relief from the itchiness.² After the initial bite, taking some time to rest your eyes and using a cold compress throughout the day may help speed up recovery.

    You can use a cold pack from your freezer, but it may be hard to position on your eyelid. 

    CorneaCare’s Rescue Self-Cooling cold compresses are great to keep on hand for situations like this! They require no refrigeration or freezing and provide cool comfort for up to fifteen minutes. Because they are individually wrapped, they are great to keep on hand when traveling, camping, and venturing off to enjoy outdoor activities over the summer. 

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    Antihistamines

    Some doctors recommend antihistamines (allergy medicine like Benadryl) to relieve itching and swelling. You can take these orally or apply topically as a cream, depending on what your eye doctor recommends.² 

    Keep in mind that some antihistamines can cause you to experience dry eye symptoms, so you may need to supplement with an artificial tear eye drop. like a vasoconstrictor eye drop such as Visine. If the eye redness is severe, you may consider using Visine, a vasoconstrictor eye drop that constricts blood vessels in your eyes to reduce redness.⁴ 

    However, these types of eye drops, especially when used on children, can cause a rebound effect leading to red eyes if used for multiple days, so it’s best to limit their use to only one to two days after the bite.⁵

    How to prevent a mosquito bite on your eyelid

    Although getting bit by a mosquito is not 100% avoidable, there are some steps you can take to lessen your chances of getting bitten by a mosquito.²

    1. Avoid wearing strong perfumes or fragrances outside.
    2. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellents (although be careful to avoid your eye area!).
    3. Control mosquitoes from hanging around outside by covering or removing any standing water and avoiding using bright lights near where you are located outdoors. 
    4. For children, ask your pediatrician at your next well visit how you can keep your child’s eyes safe while outside if you live in a high mosquito population or there are mosquito-borne illnesses going around. 
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    Putting It All Together

    Insect bites are a nuisance for most people, but when it comes to your eyes, it’s good to know how to find relief quickly and what to look for when it comes to children and others with compromised immune systems. 

    Summertime is a season when the eyes are at risk for several injuries and problems like insect bites, eye allergies, excessive sun exposure, sand in the eye, and even debris from fireworks. 

    Being aware of eye dangers is key to keeping your eyes safe and enjoying your summers for the rest of your life!

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      What’s Next

      Be the best for your eyes — continue learning more by visiting our Eye Health & Wellness blog!

      Bibliography

      1. “Mosquitoes in the United States | Mosquitoes | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 March 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/mosquitoes-in-the-us.html. Accessed 22 June 2022.
      2. “Mosquito Bite Symptoms and Treatment | Mosquitoes | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 March 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-bites/symptoms.html. Accessed 22 June 2022.
      3. “Cellulitis From a Bug Bite: Causes, Treatment & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic, 4 May 2021, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21522-cellulitis-from-a-bug-bite. Accessed 22 June 2022.
      4. “Over-the-Counter Ocular Decongestants in the United States – Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Utility for Management of Ocular Redness.” NCBI, 23 July 2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7399465/. Accessed 22 June 2022.
      5. ​​“Eye Swelling in Child | Pediatric Clinic |.” Pediatric Health Associates, https://pedhealth.net/Medical-Content/Is-Your-Child-Sick/Eye-Swelling. Accessed 22 June 2022.

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