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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffAs you age, the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that is normally confined to the area around the eye (orbit) can migrate forward below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can accumulate fluid, making the under-eye area appear puffy or swollen. Several factors can lead to this, including:
- Fluid retention due to changes in weather (for example, hot, humid days), hormone levels or eating salty foods
- Sleeping flat on your back
- Not getting enough sleep
- Allergies or dermatitis, especially if puffiness is accompanied by redness and itching
- Heredity
- Tsai LM, et al. The eye and ocular adnexa. In: Doherty GM, et al. Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2066221. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Golberg RJ, et al. What causes eyelid bags? Analysis of 114 consecutive patients. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2005;115:1395.
- Narins R, et al. Ask the experts: Why do bags form below our eyes? Scientific American. 2005;292:106.
- Understanding blepharoplasty. American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. http://www.aafprs.org/patient/procedures/shareable/s_blepharoplasty.html. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- In brief: Your guide to healthy sleep. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthysleepfs.pdf. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Dana MR. Allergic conjunctivitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 12, 2009.
