Eyelid – structure + problems

The lower and upper eyelids cover approximately one and two thirds of the closed eye, respectively. The upper eyelid is much more mobile than the lower eyelid. Eyelids protect and moisten the eyeball. The structures that hold the eyelids in place are the eyelid cartilage (technical term: tarsus) and the eyelid frenulum (technical term: ligamenta palpebrale). The position of the eyelids reveals our state of mind and therefore also serves as a means of communication. The eyelid is basically composed of three layers: the eyelid skin, the eyelid muscle and the conjunctiva.

The lid ligament at the edge of the eyelid ensures that the eyelid rests evenly on the eyeball. The eyelid skin is the thinnest skin of the human body. A large palpebral fissure (10 to 12 millimeters) is perceived as particularly attractive (Kim YC et al. 2018 Aesthetic Plast Surg). The height of the palpebral fissure is also considered a characteristic of intelligence (Talamas SN et al. 2016. Exp Psychol Gen).

The height of the palpebral fissure decreases progressively with age. Eyeliner, mascara and eye shadow make eyes appear about five percent larger (Matsushita S, et al. 2015 J Cosmet Sci). A positive eye corner also called “canthal tilt” is also a significant beauty attribute

Common problems in the area of the eyelids

• Drooping upper eyelid
• Sagging lower eyelids
• swollen lacrimal sac
• Unsymmetrical eyelids

Treatment options:

Drooping eyelid surgery & upper eyelid lift

Drooping eyelids can be tightened or corrected with the help of drooping eyelid surgery. This way you can get rid of your tired look. Learn more about eyelid lift by our experienced plastic aesthetic surgeon. More about the

Eyelid surgery

More topics

• Lower lid tightening
• Brow Lift
• Questions and answers about eyelid surgery

Terms Aesthetic Plastic Surgery