Why is one eye smaller than the other and can look uneven in pictures? Do you ever notice that your eyes can look uneven in pictures? It’s a really annoying issue that can affect your entire appearance. In fact, there’s evidence to suggest that symmetry is the most important contributing factor to beauty. Unfortunately, having asymmetrical eyes, or one eye that looks smaller than the other, is a pretty common problem. Uneven eyes are typically something you’re born with or can be caused by aging, injury, surgery or eye disease. Believe it or not, even when you think that your eyes are uneven, in most cases, they are pretty much the same size. What you’re seeing might be an illusion.
Why is one eye smaller than the other
Typically, either one eyelid is drooping or your eyebrows are uneven, the reason why is one eye smaller than the other, and makes your eyes look like they are different sizes because of their proximity to your eyebrows. We have had many Chicago patients come in thinking that one of their eyes is bigger than the other. But once we fix their eyelids and raise their eyebrows, their eyes suddenly look much more symmetrical.
Droopy Eyelids Creating the Appearance of Uneven Eyes
Severely droopy eyelids are easy to spot. (As long as your eyelid isn’t making things hard to see). However, if your eyelid is drooping ever so slightly, you might not even notice it. Instead, you may just think one eye looks smaller than the other. In most cases, when people think that they have suddenly developed uneven eyes, they actually have ptosis, or drooping of the upper eyelid.
The eyes are one of the first places that show signs of aging for many people. You may notice bulging bags developing under your eyes and your upper eyelid beginning droop. Or, you may just start to think that one eye is beginning to look different from the other, caused by these two developments.
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is used to correct droopy upper eyelids and bulges under the eyes, helping to make your eyes look symmetrical again. If your upper eyelids are drooping, and you need upper blepharoplasty, a surgeon, like double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Dayan, will remove excess skin, muscle and fat from your upper eyelid. For puffy bags underneath your eyes caused by fat deposits, your surgeon will remove or redistribute excess fat, sagging skin and muscle. This should make your eyes look youthful and symmetrical again.
Take a look at our blepharoplasty before and after pictures to see how much this procedure can transform your face!
Eyebrow and Eye Symmetry
Eyebrows are a powerful facial feature, reflecting expression and facial symmetry. Eyebrow asymmetry can occur when you are born or develop as you get older. As you age, your eyebrows may begin to droop, just like your eyelids. This can actually lead to your eyelids drooping as well, as the skin underneath your lowered eyebrows gets pushed downwards. Having one eyebrow lower down your face than the other can also create the appearance that one of your eyes is smaller than the other due to its proximity to the brow.
A brow lift and/or forehead lift can help raise your skin and eyebrows up to a symmetrical position. Typically, brow lifts are performed with a forehead lift, as the forehead skin often needs to be repositioned in order to raise the eyebrows and eyelid skin. Brow lifts, forehead lifts and/or facelifts can also be done in conjunction with blepharoplasty, which can give your eyes the most symmetrical appearance possible.
If you are not interested in surgery just yet, don’t worry. For a less invasive first step, many patients choose to receive BOTOX® to raise their eyebrows. Though the degree of elevation is limited, it can be a good way to see if eyebrow elevation gives you the eye symmetry you are looking for, since Botox is non-surgical. Dysport® and Xeomin® work similarly to BOTOX®, offering even more minimally invasive treatment options for patients who would rather avoid surgery. Since each of these neuromodulators comes with their own unique benefits, Dr. Dayan will help you decide which one is best for you.
Patients can also opt for ThermiSmooth, a completely non-invasive skin tightening treatment. By targeting your problem area with carefully controlled heat, ThermiSmooth can tighten your drooping eyelid or eyebrow and bring more symmetry to your eyes.
Symmetry is the key to beauty. And with the right cosmetic treatments, we may be able to get your eyes looking beautifully symmetrical. To find out if blepharoplasty or a brow lift and forehead lift can correct your uneven eyes, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with our facial experts in Chicago. We will be able to help you discover the cause of why is one eye smaller than the other, and suggest the proper treatment.
