Hooded eyes are a common facial feature characterised by excess skin and soft tissue around the eyebrow, covering the eyelid but not the eye itself. This condition gets its name from the skin forming a “hood” over the eyelid, creating a visible crease. The excess skin can droop down from the brow bone to the lash line, affecting one or both eyes. As a result, the eyes may appear smaller, and applying makeup, like eye shadow, can be challenging. The shape of your eyes and eyelids is a unique genetic feature, similar to attached earlobes or hair colour, which becomes more pronounced with age.
Hooded Eyelids
As we age, our eyelids may begin to droop and sag. Whether you’re looking to lift your eyelids, improve your vision, or enhance your natural beauty, we have a solution for you.
At Perfect Eyes Limited in London, we offer a range of treatments to address concerns about hooded eyes.
What are Hooded Eyelids?
Causes of Hooded Eyelids
Genetics
Some people are born with hooded eyelids due to their genetic makeup, which can be inherited from their parents or grandparents. This trait is more common in people of Asian descent.
Ageing
As we get older, our skin loses its firmness and elasticity, causing the muscles around our eyes to stretch and lead to excess skin folding down from the brow bone to the lash line, making our eyes appear smaller and more tired.
Lifestyle Factors
Certain habits, like smoking, excessive sun exposure, and a poor diet, can accelerate the ageing process and worsen hooded eyelids. Rubbing or irritating the delicate skin around our eyes can also contribute to this condition.
Ethnicity
While hooded eyes are more common in people of Asian descent, anyone can develop this condition regardless of their ethnicity.
Muscle and Fat Structure
The composition of fat and muscle under our skin can affect how it droops down, increasing the risk of hooded eyes if the muscles are weak or there’s excess fat in the eye area.
Trauma
Injuries or medical treatments can alter the appearance of our eyes and surrounding skin, potentially leading to hooded eyes. For instance, a head injury can affect the eyes and surrounding skin.
Treatments for Hooded Eyelids
Upper Lid Blepharoplasty
This procedure can enhance the appearance of your upper eyelids by addressing hooded eyes, puffiness, and drooping excess skin, leaving you looking refreshed and rejuvenated.
Meet the Expert: Dr. Sabrina Shah-Desai
With over two decades of surgical and non-surgical experience, Dr. Sabrina Shah-Desai is currently considered to be one of the safest, most experienced oculoplastic surgeons in the UK. Her extensive training, in combination with her caring and empathetic nature, makes her a natural choice for patients seeking the very best care. For this reason, Dr. Sabrina Shah-Desai appears consistently in Tatler magazine as one of the UK’s “Best Eye Surgeon” and “Top Doctors” since 2019, and is the recipient of multiple awards, including “Best Aesthetic Doctor” Safety in Beauty Diamond Award 2023, “Consultant Surgeon of the Year”, “Best Surgical Result” Aesthetic Awards 2021 & Highly Commended “Consultant Surgeon of the Year” Aesthetic Awards 2022. She was voted by “MyFaceMyBody” as one of the Global 100 most influential aesthetic practitioners in 2019 & 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to expect after getting upper eyelid surgery done?
If you decide to have eye surgery, you need to make sure you have enough time to rest and heal afterwards. After the surgery, you might experience some temporary side effects like:
- Numbness
- Bruising
- Discomfort or pain
- Puffiness
- Light sensitivity
- Watery eyes
- Swelling
- Blurred vision
How can I prevent hooded eyes from getting worse?
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, protecting your skin from sun damage, and using anti-ageing skincare products can help prevent further sagging and ageing of the eyelid skin.
Can exercises or massages help reduce hooded eyes?
Because they increase muscle tone and circulation, some people discover that face massages and exercises might help reduce the appearance of hooded eyes.
Can hooded eyes affect my vision?
In some cases, particularly if the hooded skin droops significantly, it can interfere with vision.
How can I tell if I have hooded eyes?
If the crease of your eyelid is not visible when your eyes are open or if there is a prominent fold of skin covering the crease, you likely have hooded eyes.
What are the symptoms of hooded eyes?
Here are the symptoms of hooded eyelids in easy-to-understand language:
- Limited vision: Hooded eyelids can block your vision or make it difficult to see clearly.
- Difficulty with eye makeup: The excess skin can get in the way of applying eye makeup or eyeliner.
- Tired or heavy eyes: You may feel like your eyes are weighed down or fatigued, even when you’re well-rested.
- Sensitivity to light: Your eyes might become more sensitive to light, leading to discomfort or pain.
- Watery eyes: You may experience excessive tearing or watery eyes due to the hooded eyelids.
- Difficulty opening eyes wide: It may be hard to open your eyes fully, giving you a perpetually tired look.
