There are many causes for swollen eyelids and each possible cause should be addressed in a case like yours where it seems like you have the husbandry correct.

Since the antibiotics don't seem to be helping, so you can perhaps rule out an infection. That leaves either a dietary or a housing issue. Of course each turtle is different, but look at the behavior of the one turtle that never has the problem and see if she does, or doesn't do something the others do (or don't do). Do they dig into the substrate where their eyes could come into contact with the sand, yet the one does not? Sand can stick to the eyes and cause irritation and the formation of more tears/pus. Did you bring in a new type of bedding recently? Do the others soak more-perhaps trying to raise their hydration? Are the ones with problems eating more or less of vitamin enriched foods? How old is the tank substrate? Is it possible there are snake mites in the bedding that is irritating the eyes?

ECT-you can see where I am going. Every aspect of husbandry from diet, housing and maintenance should be looked at with a critical eye and every shortcoming corrected until you find the root cause. Ornates should be able to overwinter without this problem.

I will mention the cause of a large number of my own ornates getting swollen eyelids-it was due to cool, soggy weather conditions (outdoors). The ornates could not handle the conditions, whereas the Three-toed were fine. If you do not have an accurate, digital thermometer and hydrometer, you may want to invest in one.

Good luck.
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Tess Cook
www.boxturtlesite.info

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