The area under your eye has several names, commonly called the tear trough, a groove where the lower eyelid meets the cheek, often appearing as a dark circle or "bag," technically known as periorbital edema (swelling) or related to nasojugal fat pads, with the lacrimal sac located beneath the skin in the inner corner.
The tear trough is best defined as the depression of the medial lower eyelid just lateral to the anterior lacrimal crest and limited in its inferior aspect by the inferior orbital rim. [1] This region corresponds anatomically with the location of the lacrimal sac, hence the term “tear trough” [Figure 1].
The eye sits in a protective bony socket called the orbit. Six extraocular muscles in the orbit are attached to the eye. These muscles move the eye up and down, side to side, and rotate the eye. The extraocular muscles are attached to the white part of the eye called the sclera.
Similarly, the skin fold in the lower eyelid is called the inferior palpebral sulcus. This lower skin fold is often more prominent in children and can become less prominent as one gets older. Anatomically, the inferior skin crease is seen around 3 to 5 mm below the outer aspect of the lid margin.
The other term for puffy eyes is the medical term, periorbital edema which refers to the swelling of the orbit. Puffy eyes are more commonly known as bags under the eyes, under-eye swelling, swollen eye bags, and baggy eyes.
Puffy eyes, or periorbital edema, refers to swelling around the eyes. The puffiness may occur above or below the eyes and can have many causes.
Periorbital dark circles. Other names. Dark circles, infraorbital venous stasis, periorbital hyperpigmentation. Minor dark circles and a hint of periorbital puffiness—a combination principally suggestive of minor sleep deprivation.
The most common eye diseases worldwide are:
Sinus inflammation.
Also referred to as sinusitis, sinus inflammation causes pressure and pain behind your eyes and tenderness in the front of your face. Throbbing pain from a migraine headache almost always includes pain behind the eyes. This condition is caused by the buildup of intraocular pressure.
“The most common cause of under-eye bags or puffiness is natural aging,” says Shaun Desai, M.D., a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Johns Hopkins Center for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “Older skin becomes too lax and tends to fall or wrinkle.
It has three parts: (1) the iris, which is the colored part of the eye; (2) the ciliary body, which is the structure in the eye that secretes the transparent liquid within the front of the eye; and (3) the choroid, which is the layer of blood vessels between the sclera and the retina.
Best Treatments for Under-Eye Concerns
Bags under eyes are mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes. They're common as you age and the tissues around your eyes weaken, including some of the muscles supporting your eyelids. Fat that helps support the eyes can then move into the lower eyelids, causing them to appear puffy.
zygomatic bone. Listen to pronunciation. (ZY-goh-MA-tik bone) One of a pair of bones on each upper side of the face that forms the cheek and part of the eye socket. The zygomatic bones help give shape and structure to the face and are connected to the jaw and bones near the ears, forehead, and skull.
When the skin under your eyes loses its elasticity, it may create a groove under the eyes and you end up with nasojugal fat pads. The fat pads are what may commonly be referred to as “under-eye bags”. Think of them as raised ripples of soft tissue just below the lower eyelid area.
Your eyes offer significant health clues, with yellowing whites indicating liver issues (jaundice), yellow fat deposits (Xanthalasmas) pointing to high cholesterol, and blood vessel changes (kinks, bleeding) signaling high blood pressure or diabetes, while sudden flashes or floaters can mean a retinal tear, and droopy eyelids might suggest muscle disorders, so regular eye exams are crucial for detecting silent killers like hypertension and high cholesterol early.
Common Eye Conditions
The symptoms to watch for are the sudden onset or worsening of:
Vitamin deficiencies that are associated with dark circles include vitamins E, D, K vitamin, A, and B12. In addition to that, iron deficiency is also a root cause of dark circles.
Eye creams can be effective for some people, but you can get many of the benefits from your regular skincare. As Dr Jason says, “If you suffer from specific issues such as dark circles, it's unlikely a cream will result in much improvement so overall you're better to spend money on a good all-rounder face cream.”
Dark circles under the eyes can be an external manifestation of chronic liver disease, especially when liver function is weakened over a long period or in people with liver edema. About 20% of people with liver disease often have dark circles under the eyes.
Hydration is a cornerstone of good health, and its benefits extend to the sensitive skin around your eyes. Adequate water intake can indeed help you ward off or reduce eye bags and contribute to a more youthful and radiant appearance.
Vitamin E: A Dark Circle Solution
Experts suggest that Vitamin E's antioxidant properties may help combat dark circles' causes. As an antioxidant, Vitamin E is known for its ability to accelerate the skin's healing process and contribute to cell regeneration.
The bags under the eyes may therefore be the result of a lymphatic system that works more slowly at night, or of blood flow disruptions. There are several factors that foster this swelling, among which lack of sleep, and an unhealthy lifestyle due to a poor diet, alcohol consumption, smoking or stress.