Sleep, Hydration And Stress

• Sometimes occasional eye puffiness is caused by a lack of rest or increased stress, according to EyeCareBasics.com.
  Get at least eight hours of sound sleep each night to help reduce puffy eyes caused by exhaustion and use meditation or deep breathing exercises to reduce unnecessary stress in your life. Excessive stress may lead to sleepless nights, which in turn will result in puffy eyes as a symptom to a greater problem.
  Drink plenty of water each day to help flush toxins out of your system and prevent fluid retention. The buildup of fluids in the body is often the primary cause of puffy eyes.
  
  

Alcohol And Sodium

• It is common to wake with puffy eyes in the morning when suffering from a hangover. Consuming too much alcohol in a short period of time will result in swelling around the eyes, according to EyeCareBasics.com. Eating a large quantity of food that is high in sodium will also cause the body to retain fluids, leading to water weight gain and swelling around the eyes and other areas.
  Eat a diet that contains less than 2000 milligrams of sodium per day and do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol. If these are common practices in your life, then choosing to control this behavior will likely alleviate your eye concerns.
  
  

Allergic Reactions

• If you suspect your puffy eyes are caused by an allergic reaction, you will need to minimize contact with the source of your allergies.This can be pets, dust or some other foreign substance. If cats or dogs are causing your allergies then you may have to be extra careful when handling them and wash your hands often. Be conscious of touching your eyes with your hands, being around the animals for extended periods, and possibly even get the dog or cat out of the house entirely. Otherwise, seek medical advice and perhaps begin taking a prescription medication to control the symptoms.
  Wash your face and eyes with cold water when you notice an allergic symptom for immediate relief, according to EyeCareSource.com. If swelling in the eyes becomes severe, see your doctor as soon as possible.
  
  

Home Remedies

• Use one of many tried and true home remedies to get rid of the swollen puffy eyes you wake up with in the morning.
  The tannins in tea will reduce swelling around the eyes if applied directly to the skin. Place cold, wet teabags over your eyes for several minutes to get rid of puffy eyes, according to Home-Remedies-For-You.com.
  Lightly tap the puffy skin around your eyes to increase circulation and place thinly cut slices of raw cucumber or potato on your eyes for 15 minutes.
  
  

When To Contact A Doctor

• Most puffy eye conditions are only occasional and can be treated at home without much concern. However, there is a time when the problem may be more serious.
  Contact your doctor immediately if your eyelids swell to twice their normal size or larger. This could indicate a severe allergic reaction or a bite from a poisonous insect, according to EyeCareBasics.com.
  If swelling is bad enough to make it impossible to close your eyes, there could be a problem with your thyroid. This situation also requires medical attention.