When I open my eyes really wide, my sclera only shows above my iris. Why doesn't my sclera show below my iris as well?

Question

I've noticed that when other people open their eyes really wide their sclera will show all the way around their iris. The only way I can get my sclera to show below my iris is if I tilt my head forward and tuck my chin in so that I'm actually focusing more at an upward angle.

Myriam Loyo, MD · Answer

Hi there, thank you for your question.As I understand, you are asking why can't you see the sclera (the white part of the eyeball) under your iris (the color portion of your eye) even when you try to show it. We all have different shapes to our eye socket, cheekbones, and eyelids making the orientation of the eyelids and the amount of eye showing different. Having said that, we typically want to have the lower eyelids touching or slightly covering the iris. This helps protect the eye from dryness. As we age the lower eyelids can sag down (aging and gravity) and sometimes we have to correct that by pulling the eyelids up. So it is a good thing that your lower eyelid is coming up to your iris.I hope I am understanding your question. If not a photo might help us understand better. Look up photos of models and look at their eyelids, unless their head is tilted down and they are looking up you will see the lower eyelid slightly covering the iris.Hope this helps!

John McCann, MD, PhD · Answer

Hi Hammerjack, Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I don't quite understand what you'd like to achieve. Having your eyes wide open, to the point of your sclera showing above the iris, can lead to severe dry eye with irritation and blurred vision. Maybe if you sent a picture of your problem and what you're trying to achieve, we could give you better advice. Thanks and looking forward to giving you some more useful advice,

Jon Ver Halen, MD, FACS (license suspended) · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. From what you are describing, you may have symptomatic eyelid ptosis. Fortunately, there are many products and techniques available to help. The core of a treatment regimen is your daily skin care plan. From there, you will graduate to injectables (e.g., botox, belotero or other fillers), skin resurfacing (e.g., laser, RF), and ultimately to surgery (if needed). Of course, you will need an in-person consultation to evaluate you for these procedures. Preoperative visualization with the Crisalix system may help with your decision. Your treatment plan should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you and your surgeon.    Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation in person with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon. Good luck! 
Best,
  
Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS
  
Harvard educated plastic surgeon

When I open my eyes really wide, my sclera only shows above my iris. Why doesn't my sclera show below my iris as well?

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When I open my eyes really wide, my sclera only shows above my iris. Why doesn't my sclera show below my iris as well?

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.