variety of factors, including age, tiredness, dehydration, loss of weight, and lack of sleep. If you are looking for sunken eye remedies, don’t sweat it! A variety of treatments can help you improve the look of your eyes. Keep reading to learn more about how to treat sunken eyes. It is a cosmetic problem that makes you look older with a slightly unnatural appearance. It is common in older people. However, younger people may develop sunken eyes due to trauma, surgery, weight loss, and more (1). The next section explores the causes of sunken eyes in detail.
Causes Of Sunken Eyes
Lipodystrophy syndromes, a group of heterogeneous diseases, are characterized by fat loss, leading to enophthalmos (4). Underlying eye conditions and other syndromes and deformities may also cause sunken eyes. They include:
Deepseated eyeballs Asymmetric position of the eyes Deep superior sulcus (sunken upper eyelid) Pseudoptosis (a defect causing drooping eyelids) Eyelid retraction Diplopia (double vision) Dry eyes Corneal desiccation leading to ulceration (corneal ulcers) Linear scleroderma (loss of fat) Parry-Romberg Syndrome HIV
Sunken eyes can be seen in patients with metastatic breast cancer and congenital fibrosis. The appearance of sunken eyes may vary from person to person. Here are a few symptoms you can look for to diagnose sunken eyes.
Symptoms Of Sunken Eyes
Some common symptoms include (4):
Hollowed eyes Asymmetrical eyes Dryness (dry eye) Dark circles or shadow under the lower eyelids Redness around or under the eyes (due to skin thinning) Droopy upper eyelid Visible blood vessels under the lower eyelids Sunken upper eyelid Overall tired and fatigued appearance
Unless your sunken eyes are caused by genetics or some other underlying eye condition, you may try natural remedies to improve your eyes’ appearance.
Home Remedies For Sunken Eyes
1. Coconut Oil For Sunken Eyes
3-4 drops of extra virgin coconut oil
Do this every night before going to bed. Coconut oil contains fatty acids that can keep the skin moisturized and soft and accelerate skin healing (8). It enhances the skin barrier function and prevents UV damage (9). Virgin coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties and may soothe skin issues (10).
2. Castor Oil For Sunken Eyes
2-3 drops of organic castor oil
Follow this routine every night. Castor oil is rich in antioxidants and is often used in skin creams. It contains ricinoleic acid that protects the skin and is often used to soothe skin issues like dermatitis (8), (11). Castor oil can hydrate and soothe the delicate skin around the eyes and improve its appearance.
3. Cucumber For Sunken Eyes
A few cucumber slices
Repeat this a few times during the day. Cucumber may help reduce eye puffiness and swelling. It soothes, nourishes, hydrates, and rejuvenates the skin. It has a cooling effect and may help improve the appearance of your droopy eyelids and dark circles (12), (13).
4. Olive Oil For Sunken Eyes
3-4 drops of extra virgin olive oil
Do this every night. Olive oil contains essential fatty acids that nourish, moisturize, and protect the skin. It has anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce signs of aging, prevent UV damage, and improve the appearance of your sunken eyes (14) (15).
5. Fish Oil For Sunken Eyes
2 fish oil capsules
Do this every night. Fish oil prevents photoaging. It contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, which may balance moisture content, preventing water loss, and improve skin barrier function. This may reduce the appearance of sunken eyes caused by UV damage and other external factors (16).
6. Almond Oil For Sunken Eyes
2-3 drops of almond oil
Do this once or twice every day. Almond oil is extremely gentle on the skin. It has emollient and sclerosant properties to nourish the skin and improve the skin tone. Almond oil promotes skin renewal and is rich in vitamin E, fats, and proteins and keeps your skin protected (17), (18).
7. Vitamin K For Sunken Eyes
The intake of vitamin K (supplements or through foods) improves blood flow to the skin and helps lighten the dark under-eye area (19). Consume foods like broccoli, spinach, cabbage, carrots, strawberries, tomatoes, berries, potatoes, plums, and beans. However, talk to your doctor before taking vitamin K supplements.
8. Avocado Oil For Sunken Eyes
2-3 drops of cold-pressed avocado oil
Repeat this every day for a few weeks. The essential fatty acids in avocado oil nourish the under-eye skin, enhance collagen production, and promote wound healing (20). This helps improve the appearance of the under-eye skin and keep it supple, healthy, and glowing.
9. Potato For Sunken Eyes
2-4 slices of a raw potato
Repeat this process twice a day. Potatoes are rich in vitamin K that reduces the appearance of sunken and tired eyes, enhances wound healing, and stimulates tissue regeneration (21). These properties may help reduce dark circles and scarring under the eyes. Potatoes may improve eyelid swelling and have anti-aging benefits.
10. Vaseline For Sunken Eyes
½ teaspoon of Vaseline petroleum jelly
Apply this every night before going to bed. Vaseline petroleum jelly forms a protective shield on the skin and prevents moisture loss. It helps the skin retain moisture and may improve the appearance of the eye area. You may try these remedies to protect the delicate skin around your eyes. However, be careful during application to prevent the ingredients from getting into your eyes. In the following sections, we have discussed some treatments and eye exercises you may try. Take a look.
Treatment For Sunken Eyes
The doctor may prescribe treatments and procedures to improve the appearance of your sunken eyes. They may include:
OTC antihistamines (if sunken eyes are due to an allergic reaction) Eye drops Fat grafting (1) Fat transposition flap (a surgical procedure for sunken upper eyelids) Derma filler injections (to give your eyes a fuller appearance) Cosmetic surgeries
Here are some eye exercises that might help reduce sunken eyes.
Exercises To Reduce Sunken Eyes
Dancing Eyes: Keep your head straight and move your eye from the left to the center and the right. Now, move your eyes from the right to the center and the left. Do this about 10-15 times. Eye Squeeze: Close your eyes and squeeze them for 5-10 seconds. Open your eyes and move them from the left to the center and the right. Repeat this 10 times. Closed Eye Squeeze: Place your fingertips on the under-eye area. Tightly close your eyelids for about five seconds and then open them. Repeat this five to seven times.
The area around the eye is delicate and needs extra care. Here are a few tips for maintaining your eye area.
Maintenance Tips For Sunken Eyes
If all these remedies do not work, you might want to consult a doctor.
When Should You See A Doctor?
If the sunken eyes do not improve with home remedies and exercises, it is best to consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Sometimes, sunken eyes may be a symptom of other underlying conditions. The doctor may check your medical history and symptoms and ask for a few additional tests. What foods help with sunken eyes? The key to reducing sunken eyes is to maintain a healthy balanced diet. Watermelon, celery, and cucumber are some foods that help the body in flushing out extra water and minimizing the dark, baggy appearance under the eyes. Tomatoes, oats, kale, walnuts, black beans, kiwis, and green leafy vegetables should all be included in your meals. In addition, drink green tea and consume vitamin K-rich foods. Does wearing glasses cause sunken eyes? No, wearing glasses does not cause sunken eyes.
