What is it?

Dermatochalasis refers to redundancy of the eyelid skin and is often associated with orbital fat protrusion or prolapse.
The skin appears abnormally saggy. It can also affect the lower eyelid.
Excess skin on the upper eyelid can fall below the eyelid, causing ptosis.

Causes

It is generally associated with aging, although there may be a certain genetic predisposition. The presence of unhealthy habits, such as smoking or obesity, or systemic diseases, such as thyroid disorders, may be related to the development of dermatochalasis.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is purely clinical. The most serious cases can be easily seen with the naked eye. An ophthalmological examination, with special attention to the anterior segment of the eye, is sufficient.
Dermatochalasis can affect both men and women.

Symptoms

The main sign is aesthetic. The eyes look “sad” like “asleep”. It can present with ocular hyperemia (redness), tearing, foreign body sensation (grit), itching, stinging / burning. In addition, the most serious cases can cause a limitation of the upper visual hemifield due to ptosis.

Treatment

The only effective treatment is surgery. The technique is called blepharoplasty and is performed on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia.

Prognosis

Surgery usually provides good results, both aesthetic and functional. Although very safe, the technique is not without minor complications, such as some temporary inflammation or the risk of bruising.