Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHooded Eyelids Are ‘Normal’ Eyelids TooDo Hooded Eyelids Cause Vision Changes?Reasons to Repair Hooded EyelidsCosmetic Repair for Hooded EyelidsHealing After Cosmetic Repair
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hooded Eyelids Are ‘Normal’ Eyelids Too
Do Hooded Eyelids Cause Vision Changes?
Reasons to Repair Hooded Eyelids
Cosmetic Repair for Hooded Eyelids
Healing After Cosmetic Repair
Hooded eyelids (ordermatochalasis) describe the appearance of eyes that have a large amount of skin that sags and folds down from below the brow bone over the uppereyelids. The skin looks like a hood that falls over the eye.
Hooded eyelids can cause both functional and cosmetic problems. In some cases, the sagging skin can interfere with normal vision. From an aesthetic perspective, hooded eyes can make a person look old and tired. This can also impact your self-esteem and confidence.
There are several ways to repair hooded eyelids. Most treatments provide temporary cosmetic benefits. Long-term surgical correction is also possible.
This article describes the cosmetic repair of hooded eyes, how they affect your vision, and reasons to correct them. It also explains treatments and what to expect during recovery.
Elena Fedorina / Getty Images
Hooded eyelids involve the presence of loose and redundant eyelid skin as a result of aging or genetics. This common condition is regarded as “normal” in elderly people. It occurs from the effects of aging, which include gravity, a loss of elastic tissue in your skin, and a weakening of your eyelid’s connective tissues.
Hooded eyelids are seen occasionally in younger people as part of their natural eye shape due to genetic factors. For these people, the condition may worsen with age.
Distinguishing Appearance
To determine if you have hooded eyes, look in a mirror and observe the natural crease line in your eye. You likely have a hooded eye shape if the crease is barely visible or entirely hidden.
Conditions That Cause Hooded EyesThe appearance of hooded eyelids can occur because of the following conditions:Dermatochalasis: loose and redundant eyelid skin due to age or geneticsPtosis: sagging of the upper eyelids due to sagging musclesBlepharochalsis: episodic inflammation of the upper eyelid, leaving the skin loose and redundant
Conditions That Cause Hooded Eyes
The appearance of hooded eyelids can occur because of the following conditions:Dermatochalasis: loose and redundant eyelid skin due to age or geneticsPtosis: sagging of the upper eyelids due to sagging musclesBlepharochalsis: episodic inflammation of the upper eyelid, leaving the skin loose and redundant
The appearance of hooded eyelids can occur because of the following conditions:
Hooded eyelids can cause loss of your normal field of vision. When this occurs, the condition is most likely to affect yourvisual fieldsat the upper and outer parts.
The vision changes that occur with drooping eyelids can affect one or both eyes, depending on the cause. The impact of hooded eyelids can include:
Hooded eyelids can also cause the following physical changes:
Droopy Eyelid (Ptosis)
Hooded eyelids typically do not present a medical problem. However, you may want to repair your hooded eyelids for the following reasons:
Ptosis: Drooping Eyelid
There are several options for repairing hooded eyelids. Depending on the severity of your hooded eyelids, your goals, and factors regarding your general health, your healthcare provider may advise one of the following solutions:
Botulinum toxin injections or dermal fillers:Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA)injections ordermal fillers(skin-plumping injections) can provide an alternative to surgery for mild to moderate hooded eyelids. These treatments can temporarily lift your eyebrows and tighten the skin around your eye to soften the appearance of sagging or wrinkled skin.
Laser therapy:Laser therapyuses a narrow beam of high-intensity light to remove thin layers of extra skin from your eyelids.
Thread lift: A thread lift involves the use of temporary sutures to produce a visible “lift” to pull your eyebrows into place. In addition, it triggers your natural healing response and promotes collagen production at the site of the sutures. This treatment is best suited for mild to moderate hooded eyelids because it can only effect subtle changes.
Blepharoplasty:Blepharoplastyis a surgical procedure that rejuvenates the upper eyelids. It involves making small incisions within the natural creases of your upper eyelid to remove excess skin and fat and tighten the muscle. There are two types of blepharoplasty:
Brow lift: A brow lift raises sagging brows that cause hooding in the upper eyelids. The result places your eyebrows in an alert and youthful-looking position. It may be performed with blepharoplasty or other cosmetic procedures.
Aftereyelid surgery, your healthcare provider will provide specific instructions based on the procedure performed and your overall condition. Recovery after hooded eye surgery typically involves the following instructions:
Summary
Hooded eyelids involve the presence of loose and extra skin below your brow bone. The condition can result in excess sagging of the upper eyelid.
Hooded eyelids are mostly a cosmetic problem. They can make you look tired and old. In some cases, hooded eyes can interfere with your field of vision and prevent you from performing simple tasks such as reading and driving.
Hooded eyelids can be corrected with temporary or long-term treatments. Treatments can improve the aesthetics of the eye area, leaving eyes that look fresher and brighter. Surgery may help cases in which hooded eyes cause vision problems.
Though hooded eyes may be normal due to aging or genetics, you don’t have to suffer from them. Contact your healthcare professional for treatment options if you have hooded eyes that affect your vision or impact the way you look and feel about yourself.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Eyelid surgery guide.UC San Diego Health: Shiley Eye Institute.Dermatochalasis.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery: blepharoplasty.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is ptosis?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Blepharochalasis syndrome.Mount Sinai.Eyelid drooping.Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.Hooded upper eyelids – causes, treatment, and benefits.The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Drooping eyelids surgery.UT Southwestern Medical Center.Eye-catching options to rejuvenate your eyelids.American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Here’s what you need to know about Upneeq, the FDA-approved “eyelid lifting” drops.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Non-invasive radio frequency treatment for droopy eyelids.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What you need to know about thread lifts.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.ASPS recommended insurance coverage for third-party payers: blepharoplasty.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Brow lift.Mayo Clinic Health System.7 common questions about upper eyelid surgery.UNC Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Eyelid surgery guide.UC San Diego Health: Shiley Eye Institute.Dermatochalasis.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery: blepharoplasty.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is ptosis?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Blepharochalasis syndrome.Mount Sinai.Eyelid drooping.Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.Hooded upper eyelids – causes, treatment, and benefits.The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Drooping eyelids surgery.UT Southwestern Medical Center.Eye-catching options to rejuvenate your eyelids.American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Here’s what you need to know about Upneeq, the FDA-approved “eyelid lifting” drops.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Non-invasive radio frequency treatment for droopy eyelids.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What you need to know about thread lifts.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.ASPS recommended insurance coverage for third-party payers: blepharoplasty.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Brow lift.Mayo Clinic Health System.7 common questions about upper eyelid surgery.UNC Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Eyelid surgery guide.UC San Diego Health: Shiley Eye Institute.Dermatochalasis.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery: blepharoplasty.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is ptosis?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Blepharochalasis syndrome.Mount Sinai.Eyelid drooping.Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.Hooded upper eyelids – causes, treatment, and benefits.The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Drooping eyelids surgery.UT Southwestern Medical Center.Eye-catching options to rejuvenate your eyelids.American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Here’s what you need to know about Upneeq, the FDA-approved “eyelid lifting” drops.American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Non-invasive radio frequency treatment for droopy eyelids.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What you need to know about thread lifts.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.ASPS recommended insurance coverage for third-party payers: blepharoplasty.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Brow lift.Mayo Clinic Health System.7 common questions about upper eyelid surgery.UNC Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
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UT Southwestern Medical Center.Eye-catching options to rejuvenate your eyelids.
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Here’s what you need to know about Upneeq, the FDA-approved “eyelid lifting” drops.
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Non-invasive radio frequency treatment for droopy eyelids.
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American Society of Plastic Surgeons.ASPS recommended insurance coverage for third-party payers: blepharoplasty.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Brow lift.
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