Our eyes are one of the most telling parts of our bodies. If we didn’t sleep well, we might sport blood-shot eyes and dark circles, or if we watched a tear-jerker movie, our eyes might be puffy from crying. In essence, our eyes truly express a lot. And try as we might, sometimes even the cleverest tricks like using cool cucumber slices or the most strategic application of concealer can’t hide those unruly bags and puffiness. The fact is, as we age, the appearance of our eyes begins to change. The skin around our eyes begins to lose elasticity, causing eyelid and under-eye sagging. Our eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting them begin to weaken, causing excess fat to gather above and below your eyelids. Not only can this cause us to look tired and aged, but all of these factor can also impact our vision and eye health if not treated promptly. We often forget that our eyelids play a very important and underrated role: they protect eyes from foreign objects and keep them lubricated. That’s why any changes to our eyelids can drastically interfere with our vision. This condition is often referred to as eyelid laxity, and it’s something Dr. Davis sees in many of her patients.
There are several different types of eyelid laxity ectropion, entropion, trichiasis and floppy eyelid syndrome. Ectropion is defined by the sagging and outward turning of the lower eyelid and eyelashes, whereas entropion is the sagging and inward turning of the lower eyelid and eyelashes. If left untreated, both conditions can cause excessive tearing, crusting of the eyelid, mucous discharge and irritation of the eye. Trichiasis causes the eyelashes to point backward, growing back toward the eye which can cause irritation, damage and infection to the cornea or other parts of the eye. Lastly, Floppy Eyelid Syndrome occurs when the eyelid becomes very loose and appears rubbery and oversized. This condition can cause irritation and inflammation of the cornea or other parts of the eye.
If you’re suffering from any of these conditions, there are treatment options available, and we can help. At Advanced Eyelid Surgery and Laser Center, we offer surgical corrections for eyelid laxity. Contact our office at 817-778-4444 to schedule your consultation.
