Grandma's trick for puffy eyes: What eye doctors say actually works

Puffy eyes in the morning are one of those things that come with age, a short night, or a salty dinner. Long before expensive eye creams with caffeine became popular, grandmothers had a simpler remedy: two used tea bags from the fridge, placed over closed eyes.

It's an old beauty trick that still circulates on social media, especially during winter. And according to eye doctors, there's a good reason it might help.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and Mayo Clinic both recommend cool compresses for reducing puffiness around the eyes. But there's an important distinction: the cooling effect is supported by medical advice, while the supposed extra benefits of tea itself are much less certain.

Why your eyes look puffier in the morning

The skin around your eyes is delicate, and it changes as you get older. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the tissues supporting your eyelids gradually weaken, allowing fat to shift forward and fluid to collect beneath the eyes.

That's why puffiness can become more noticeable after a poor night's sleep or a particularly salty meal. Fluid can accumulate overnight, making the area look swollen when you wake up.

Applying something cool can temporarily reduce this swelling. The AAO recommends wetting a clean washcloth with cool water and gently holding it around your eyes for a few minutes while sitting upright.

Mayo Clinic offers essentially the same advice. Neither organization says you need tea bags to get the benefit.

What the caffeine in tea might do

Black and green tea contain caffeine, which can temporarily narrow blood vessels. This has led to the idea that placing used tea bags on your eyes might reduce swelling even further.

However, the science isn't nearly as convincing as the popularity of the remedy suggests.

According to Medical News Today, very few studies have specifically investigated the effects of tea bags on the eyes. And research examining caffeine's effects on puffiness has generally involved specially formulated skincare products rather than ordinary tea bags.

Dermatologist Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya tells The Manual that cold tea bags might temporarily improve puffiness, but their effectiveness remains unproven.

In other words, there's no reliable evidence that tea bags work better than a clean, cool washcloth.

How to try the tea bag trick safely

If you already drink black or green tea, trying this traditional remedy is relatively straightforward. The important thing is to keep everything clean and avoid irritating the sensitive skin around your eyes.

Here's how to do it:

1. Steep two plain black or green tea bags in hot water.
2. Remove the bags and gently squeeze out the excess liquid.
3. Allow them to cool completely, then place them in the refrigerator until comfortably cool.
4. Close your eyes and rest the chilled bags gently over your eyelids for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Remove them immediately if you notice itching, burning, or irritation.

Never put hot tea bags on your eyes or allow tea to drip into them. Avoid flavored varieties containing ingredients such as cinnamon or citrus, which may irritate your skin.

Don't have tea bags? A clean washcloth soaked in cool water works just as well for applying a cool compress.

When puffy eyes need more attention

Occasional under-eye puffiness is usually harmless. Getting enough sleep, reducing excess salt, and sleeping with your head slightly elevated may help prevent fluid from collecting overnight.

But persistent or unusual swelling shouldn't automatically be dismissed as tiredness. Contact a healthcare professional if swelling doesn't go away or is accompanied by pain, itching, or redness. Sudden swelling with vision changes needs prompt medical attention.

And remember, cold compresses mainly help with temporary swelling. They won't reverse the sagging skin or changes in fatty tissue that can develop with age.

So Grandma's tea bag trick isn't entirely a myth. Just don't give the tea all the credit. The cold is probably doing most of the work.