Under Eye Hollowness

What is Undereye Hollowness?

The medical term for sunken eyes is “tear trough hollows”, wherein the delicate skin under the eyes appear dark, sunken, and hollow. Sunken eyes can be prevalent in older adults. Mostly, sunken eyes are not related to life-threatening conditions. If the condition worsens over time despite attempts to get better sleep and drink enough water, or if they are accompanied by other symptoms, you should visit a doctor.

What triggers it?
In most cases, sunken eyes relate to the quality of nutrition and the health status of an individual.

Some health and lifestyle issues affecting the under eye skin under the eyes are as follows:

• Dehydration or reduced water content in the body: most common cause of sunken eyes
• Nutrient deficiencies: deficiencies of vitamin C and K and/or iron
• Sleep: inadequate sleep or poor-quality sleep
• Aging: collagen loss with aging might cause sunken eyes
• Weight loss: can cause under eye blood vessels to become prominent, skin to be transparent, and nutritional deficiencies
• Genetics
• Smoking: can cause collagen and skin elasticity degradation, leading to sagging of facial skin, and the eyes to appear sunken
• Allergies: can cause the eyes to sink, which can be attributed to inflammation in the tiny blood vessels below the eyes or blocked nasal passages
• Sinusitis: inflamed sinuses and nasal congestion and pressure can cause sunken eyes
• Trauma: injury to the area can cause sunken eyes
• Sun exposure: can make the skin darker, which can cause the appearance of hollowed-out eyes owing to darkened circles
• Allergies: Allergic rhinitis or hay fever or seasonal allergies can cause sunken eyes

What are the symptoms?
Sunken eyes are often described as:

1. hollowing under the eyes
2. dark shadow over the lower eyelid
3. dark circles underneath the eyes
4. thin-looking skin under the eyes
5. overall tired or fatigued look in the face

How is it diagnosed?
Medical history, followed by visual inspection of the face is the usual routine. The doctor needs to know about any other physical or emotional symptoms, if present, such as nasal congestion, itchy eyes, fatigue, or weight loss, or if the condition is affecting their self-esteem or causing depression and anxiety. Laboratory tests might follow.

How is it treated?
Sunken eyes resulting from medical conditions can be treated with medications, including prescription antibiotics for sinus infections and over-the-counter antihistamines and eye drops for allergies. Dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, and Perlane involve an injection of a naturally-occurring substance known as hyaluronic acid into the sensitive tissue just below the eye. A filler is usually painless and takes a few minutes to inject, but it does not last forever, and will require repeat procedure. Both major and minor surgical treatments are available for people who experience sunken eyes due to aging. Cosmetic surgery, including brow-lifts, blepharoplasty (lower eyelid surgery), and face-lifts can reduce the appearance of sunken eyes. These techniques are more invasive than dermal fillers and involve a longer recovery time. However, they can offer a more long-term solution to sunken eyes. However, surgery is never without risks; therefore, it is important to be well-informed before opting for surgery.

Lifestyle changes and home remedies
Following can help ease sunken eyes: adequate good quality sleep; use of good-quality moisturizer with sunscreen and cold compresses; topical use of almond oil, fish oil, lemon juice, raw potatoes, cucumber, and warm and moist tea bags directly below the eyes; adequate consumption of water and dark green leafy vegetables; and avoidance of excess caffeine and smoking.