How to Address the 6 Most Common Aging Eye Issues
Your eyes are one of the first things people see when they talk to you. Depending on the way your eyes look through the aging process, this can be a good or bad thing!
Many people often first notice signs of aging in their eyes in their 40s and are concerned that loose skin, lines, wrinkles, and more make them look old or tired. This often follows the same trajectory of others found in their family history. While a facelift can be done to address many facial aging issues, not everyone wants to go through with that invasive procedure. There are many issues that occur with our eyes as we age. Permanent vision loss is a common issue that many experience, and while plastic surgery can fix many issues related to our eyes, addressing vision loss or the optic nerve is not one of them. To address central vision loss, a visit to an eye doctor is imperative.
Fortunately, there are several less invasive cosmetic procedures your surgeon can use to turn back the clock.
Below is more information about common aging eye issues and what can be done about them.
Loose Skin
One of the most apparent issues with eye aging is sagging skin. Elastin and collagen are essential components of the skin that make it firm, but our bodies produce less of them as we age.
As that happens, the skin gets thinner and starts to sag, especially around the eyes.
A non-surgical option to consider for milder skin sagging cases is non-surgical skin tightening. This non-invasive procedure uses targeted warmth to the loose skin in several sessions. The warming sensation reaches into the deeper layers of skin and blood vessels and boosts collagen production.
While this procedure may not improve your central vision, over a few months, this skin tightening procedure can give you smoother and tighter skin around and above the eyes.
Bags Under The Eyes
Bags under the eyes can be caused by several things, such as lack of sleep or skin irritation. However, if it lasts for a long time, it’s probably aging and genetics causing the issue. While we all have small fat pads under the eyes, these can shift as we get older.
Combined with thinning and sagging skin, you can develop bags under the eyes that don’t disappear.
A lower eyelid lift could be just what you need to remove the fat and tighten the remaining skin.
Crow’s Feet
The facial muscles make countless small movements all day long for many years. So it’s not surprising that you develop fine lines and wrinkles in the corners of the eyes as you age. Others also may get frown lines between the brows and lines on the forehead.
One method is to freeze the tiny muscles that control the movements that wrinkle the skin to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Botox and Dysport are effective injectables that block nerve signals to these facial muscles.
The result is the skin surface in the problem areas relax and smooths out a few hours after the treatment.
Botox and Dysport injections are very popular for temporarily reducing these fine lines and wrinkles without surgery.
The results usually last three to six months, so you’ll require one or two touch-ups per year to maintain your younger look.
No Eyelashes
As the years pass, the eyelashes may thin and become shorter. Some may try special types of mascara or false eyelashes. But if these don’t work, the new cosmetic procedure Latisse might help.
This FDA-approved treatment for thinning eyelashes may thicken and lengthen both the eyelashes and eyebrows. It’s produced by Allergan and can be purchased with a prescription at most pharmacies.
Hooded Eyelids
Some people have more skin in the upper eyelids than others. But as we get older, the excess skin can loosen and droop along the top of the eyes. Some refer to this as hooded eyelids, and it can make you look tired or like you are upset. While hooded eyelids do not impact central vision, many are unhappy with their appearance.
To look more alert and younger, an upper eyelid lift can significantly make you look younger and more alert. The surgeon makes an incision in the upper eyelid and removes extra skin, fat, and muscle.
Recovery takes three or four weeks and will make you look years younger. This procedure also may be medically necessary in some cases if the sagging skin interferes with your vision.
Dark Circles Below The Eyes
There are several reasons you may get dark circles under the eyes that make you look tired and older.
Some patients have eyes that are deeper set, and if the brow bone extends out too far, it will place a shadow in the hollows below the eyes. Often if you have this kind of facial structure, it will also be found in your family history. If this is your issue, dermal fillers such as Restylane can be put into the hollow to boost volume and reduce shadowing.
Other patients may have thin skin under the eyes that make the dark circles, the blood vessels under the skin are part of the explanation in this case. Dark circles are often caused by blood vessels that are easily visible through fine skin. A possible option here is laser skin resurfacing. This non-invasive treatment uses a special laser to boost collagen production and eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots.
This procedure can reduce dark circles under the eyes and the results only take one or two weeks to be apparent.
Another way to address hollows under the eyes is Ultherapy. This procedure uses ultrasonic waves to tone, lift, and tighten the skin under the eyes.
It works by boosting collagen production under the skin’s surface at the correct depth and temperature. The benefits of this procedure can be seen right away, but it can take two or three months for maximum effects.
Many patients like Ultherapy because it is effective but takes time to kick in fully. You can gain impressive results gradually, and most people won’t know you have work done.
Other Issues
There are other more difficult issues that can occur with our eyes, age related macular degeneration and vision loss are a few of them. Make sure to be aware of early symptoms in the early stages so you are able to catch any problems quick. Other issues are problems such as diabetic retinopathy or a blocked tear duct. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition caused by high blood sugar levels and diabetes. Age related macular degeneration AMD often leads to vision loss, although not necessarily blindness. If you think you are experiencing macular degeneration, a visit to an eye doctor is important.
An eye doctor is the one that can help you address issues with your central vision. There are also a variety of eye diseases that can impair your vision. if you suspect that you may be suffering from any eye diseases, plastic surgery is not the answer. The national eye institute recommends that watching for early symptoms is key. With age related macular degeneration there is no fix, however when it comes to many other issues there are options for you. When it comes to common age related vision changes often contact lenses are a good solution. The way the eyes look says a lot about your overall appearance, but the aging process can make you look older and tired. Fortunately, various cosmetic procedures are available to give you a healthier and younger appearance.
Questions and Answers
What is the most common eye problem related to aging?
Primary causes of vision loss among the elderly include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. AMD stands as the foremost reason for registered blindness in individuals aged 50 and above in Western countries.
What is the best step to help someone with impaired vision due to aging?
Enhance your loved one’s ability to utilize their remaining vision by incorporating additional lamps and lighting across the household. Gooseneck lamps can be strategically placed in areas requiring extra illumination for activities like writing checks, cooking, or reading.
What are the normal signs of aging eyes?
Normal signs of aging eyes are difficulty with close-up vision, struggling to differentiate colors, like blue and black and requiring additional time to adapt to varying light levels.
Request A Cosmetic Procedure Consultation
Considering a cosmetic procedure in New Jersey? Dr. Smita. R. Ramanadham of SR Plastic Surgery New Jersey can help you obtain the results you want. Dr. Ramanadham will go over your options and goals to determine if you are a good candidate for a variety of eye-related cosmetic procedures.
References
- A Specific Guide To Caring For The Skin Around Your Eyes. (2020). Accessed at https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-beauty/specific-guide-to-caring-for-the-skin-around-your-eyes/
- Cosmetic Eye Surgeries. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/cosmetic-eye-surgery#
- Eyelid Surgery. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/eyelid-surgery
- Eye Lift. (2020.). Accessed at https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-eyelid-surgery