What conditions can eye surgery target?

Although both these conditions can be a cosmetic concern, sometimes they may require treatment for medical reasons.

Luckily, excess eyelid skin and sagging eyes can be treated through eye surgery. Here we will look at these conditions and how the Cadogan Clinic’s expert surgeons can help.

Excess eyelid skin

Sagging skin is a common sign of ageing, due to the loss of the skin’s natural elasticity. The skin around the eyes, including the eyelids, can be especially prone to loosening and drooping with age, because the skin in this area is very thin.

Loose skin on the eyelids can be a cosmetic concern, impacting upon an individual’s self-esteem, possibly even causing them to avoid certain social situations through anxiety or embarrassment about their appearance. But excess eyelid skin can pose a hazard to a person if the drooping skin interferes with their normal vision, meaning activities like driving or riding a bike are dangerous to themselves and to others.

The eyelids can reveal the first signs of ageing due to the fine nature of the skin, combined with excessive squinting, blinking and facial expressions. This soft, delicate tissue will gradually begin to sag over time as the muscles weaken and collagen and elasticity levels gradually deplete. Smoking and excessive sun exposure can make the problem more acute.

Facial exercises, anti-ageing creams and cosmetic procedures can all help tighten the loose skin on the eyelids. But sometimes eye surgery is the only effective way to tackle the problem of excess eyelid skin.