Condition Information
Dermatochalasis is a medical condition, defined as an excess of skin in the upper or lower eyelid, also known as “baggy eyes.” It may be either an acquired or a congenital condition. People with dermatochalasis often also have blepharitis, a condition caused by the plugging of glands in the eye that produce lubricating fluid (meibomian glands). Dermatochalasis can be severe enough that it pushes the eyelashes into the eye. Weakness in the orbital septum may cause the herniation of the orbital fat pads. This is observed as the presence of bulges (fat pads) in the soft tissue of the baggy eyes.
Treatment Information
If dermatochalasis is severe enough to obstruct the peripheral or superior visual fields, then it may be treated with a surgical procedure called blepharoplasty.
Blepharoplasty is a type of surgery that repairs droopy eyelids and may involve removing excess skin, muscle and fat. As you age, your eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting them weaken. As a result, excess fat may gather above and below your eyelids, causing sagging eyebrows, droopy upper lids and bags under your eyes.
Besides making you look older, severely sagging skin around your eyes can reduce your side vision (peripheral vision), especially the upper and outer parts of your field of vision. Blepharoplasty can reduce or eliminate these vision problems and make your eyes appear younger and more alert.