How To Get Rid Of Sunken Eyes

What Do Sunken Eyes (Enophthalmos) Look Like?

Enophthalmos refers to the increased depth and hollowing of the eye sockets.⁵ It's more commonly known as sunken eyes.

Scientifically, enophthalmos means "the posterior displacement of the globe in an anteroposterior plane within the orbit."⁹ This translates to eyes that look hollow.

For example, there may be dark shadows or dark circles underneath the eyes, around the lower eyelid. This may make you look tired or sick even if you have had adequate rest and are generally well.

Sunken eyes are a common sign of aging due to tear trough deformity (when the lower eyelid bags become more prominent).

If related to aging changes, sunken eyes are not any cause for concern. However, some people may not like the look of sunken eyes and, therefore, take steps to reduce them.

Pictures of Sunken Eyes

Sunken eyes look different on different people for various reasons. Some people have faint sunken eyes, while others have more apparent sunken eyes.

Several factors affect the look of the skin around the eyes, including age, weight, diet, and more.

Here are some pictures of sunken eyes for your reference:

What are the Symptoms of Sunken Eyes?

Some common symptoms of sunken eyes include the following:

Dark circles under the eyes
Dark bags under the eyes
Dark shading under the eyes
Loose or thin skin under the eyes
Eyes that appear hollow
A lower eyelid that appears to sag
Puffiness of the lower eyelid

Depending on the cause of sunken eyes, other symptoms may accompany them.

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6 Potential Causes of Sunken Eyes

There are several causes of sunken eyes. Here are six common causes:

1. Age

Aging causes sunken eyes. As you get older, your skin loses some of its elasticity. As a result, the sensitive skin around your eyes may begin to droop. This can make your eyes appear sunken.

Aging is a natural process that will have various effects on your body.

2. Lack of Sleep

Not getting enough sleep? If you are feeling sleep deprived or have not had adequate sleep, you may wake up with the appearance of sunken eyes.

A lack of sleep can cause dark circles and bags to appear under the eyes.

3. Dehydration

Dehydration can take a toll on your health and your skin. Dehydration could cause the appearance of sunken eyes.

4. Eye Injury

If you have an eye injury or fracture the bones around your eyes, this could cause you to have sunken eyes.²

You may also have inflammation and swelling from eye trauma that can make your eyes look sunken.³

5. Poor Diet

What you eat can affect your health. That's why it is essential to eat foods that boost collagen. Collagen is the body's most abundant protein.

It's important for your skin and your overall health, including your vision.⁶

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But our bodies make less collagen as we grow older.⁴ If you eat a poor diet and do not get enough of your collagen-producing leafy greens, you may develop dark shadows under your eyes.

Excess alcohol in your diet can also hurt your collagen production.¹¹

In fact, what you don't and what you do put in your body can affect your skin. For example, smoking can drop your collagen count and, ultimately, the appearance of your eyes, too.⁴

Significant weight loss can also cause the look of sunken eyes since you lose fat not just in your body but also in your face.

6. Underlying Medical Conditions

Certain underlying medical conditions can cause sunken eyes. A sickness as simple as a sinus infection can make your eyes appear sunken and hollow.

On the other hand, more severe health conditions like thyroid disease can cause sunken eyes.¹

Certain types of cancer may also be the culprit.

Can Sunken Eyes Cause Complications?

Sunken eyes are usually not anything to worry about. They typically happen with age and bad habits like poor-quality sleep and nutrition.

However, sunken eyes can be a sign of a bigger health concern.

When to See a Doctor for Sunken Eyes

You should see a doctor for sunken eyes if you have experienced an eye injury that has caused your sunken eyes. You may have a fracture.

You should also seek medical advice for sunken eyes if you are concerned that they indicate a more significant health concern.

If, for example, you are experiencing other symptoms with sunken eyes, you may have an infection. For example, look out for itchiness, redness, and excess eye crust. Vision problems may be a sign of a bigger concern like an eye disease.

10 Tips for Preventing & Treating Sunken Eyes

There are various treatment options to get rid of sunken eyes:

Drink enough water and plenty of fluids to help collagen production.
Eating a healthy diet with a lot of green vegetables can also help to produce collagen to promote stronger, healthier, more elastic skin—especially for the delicate skin around the eyes.
Getting your vitamins, like vitamin C, is important. This can be found in citrus fruits. You may also consider taking daily vitamins or collagen supplements.
Exercise and consistently get enough sleep. Adults need at least eight hours of sleep per night, on average. Anything less than that can cause a domino effect of physical and mental health issues.
Practicing a regular skin care routine to reduce the appearance of sunken eyes. There are tons of beauty creams on the market, as well as natural home remedies you can try, including the use of almond oil around the eyes.
Almond oil may be used to treat dry skin, smooth and rejuvenate the skin, and improve skin complexion and tone over time.¹²
Other home remedies include placing tea bags, cucumbers, or cold compresses under the eyes.¹¹
Dermal fillers are another option to fill in sunken and hollow eyes. But dermal fillers are temporary.¹⁰
For a more permanent solution, cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can reduce the look of sunken eyes by reducing the fat deposits that cause puffiness of the lids.⁸
Facelifts can also help by tightening up the skin.⁷ Unfortunately, unlike beauty sleep, cosmetic surgeries are not free. They can be costly, depending on how severe your case is.