What is wrong with my eyes? Are they different? Bulging? (Photo)

Question

My eyes look different and are not very appealing. I'm not sure what is wrong with them. The right eye seems to be bulging more than the left one. Can anyone suggest what can be done to make my eyes look better? Do I need blepharoplasty or browlift?

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

Either your right eyeball is more bulging or left eyeball more sunken. See an oculoplastic surgeon for evaluation. One possible treatment would be right orbital decompression but first need to find out the cause of the asymmetry.

David Cheung, MBChB, Bsc(Hons), FRCOphth · Answer

Hi greetings from the UK. Yes it's pretty obvious your right eye does look bigger than YOUR left. Common causes include:-  right eyeball globe in normal position but right upper eyelid more pulled upwards (right upper lid retraction). Common causes include thyroid eye disease, right upper lid retraction due to bilateral overreaction from a drooping left upper lid (left upper eyelid) ptosisLess common causes include the right eyeball globe being pushed forward - right proptosis e.g. from thyroid eye disease and other orbital problemsRight eyeball actually being in correct position but left eye looking smaller due to it sinking back into the socket (left enophthalmos) e.g. due to old forgotten left orbital trauma causing a blowout fracture. Really uncommon causes which are usually longstanding include pseudoproptosis due to the right eye being bigger from pathology which is usually pretty obvious (high myopia, congenital glaucoma) or the pseudoenophthalmos from the left eye being smaller (e.g. congenital microphthalmos). Common things being common, it's most likely due to upper lid retraction due to ptosis in the other eyelid- but you would need a comprehensive orbital examination and ocular exam to rule out other more sinister causes. See a good oculoplastic consultant (e.g. via ASOPRS website) or at least a general ophthalmologist who'll be able to rule out proptosis by measuring your exophthalmometry readings. They may recommend orbital CT scanning should they find any suggestion of proptosis. Good luck and best wishes.David

Sara A. Kaltreider, MD (retired) · Answer

An examination by an Oculoplastic surgeon give you accurate answers. Either one eye is bulging (exophthalmos) or the other is sunken (enophthalmos). Thyroid problem is one common cause of exophthalmos. Old trauma or sinus disease can cause enophthalmos. There are many other possible diagnoses, and examination is essential to make a diagnosis. Once you have your diagnosis, you may have more than one option - lid and/or brow surgery, or orbital surgery to achieve your goals.

What is wrong with my eyes? Are they different? Bulging? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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