Why Is One Eye Bigger Than the Other: Possible Treatments

Why Is One Eye Bigger Than the Other: Possible Treatments

When you look in the mirror, do you see uneven eyes or other facial features that seem a little off? Does one of your eyes appear larger than the other? What can you do about it? It’s not normal, right? What if someone notices? Is it possibly something that you should be worried about? Let’s find out.

Causes of Mismatched Eyes

You can blame your mom and dad for this one. Genetics are a common cause of eyes being different sizes. You probably look a lot like your parents or grandparents. If you really pay attention, they might have one eye that is bigger than the other or placed just a little higher than the other one too. You may have never noticed, just like no one has probably ever noticed your eyes are also asymmetrical. 

Trauma to the eye can also cause mismatched eyes. Car accidents or injuries while playing sports are examples of how this can happen. Injuries like this can cause the eye to sink or appear to droop. This can lead to the eventual feeling of the eyes pulling downward, causing sinus problems and other facial pain.

Droopy eyelids can be seen at birth or appear later with a condition called Ptosis. When the muscle that holds your eyelid up stretches too far or becomes unattached from the eyelid, the eye will droop and appear lower than the other. 

Some people have one or both eyes protruding or bulging. This is most commonly caused by Graves’ disease, where the area behind and around the eye swells and then pushes the eyeball forward. This can also happen as a result of a tumor or infection.

How to Treat Mismatched Eyes

Treatment for mismatched eyes is not usually needed at all. There are, however, things you can do to may your eyes seem more symmetrical. 

• Makeup – Using contouring and highlighting techniques allow you to achieve a more balanced look. Try looking up video tutorials online to learn more specifically about getting the look you desire or asking a makeup artist for a few tips and tricks.
• Botox – Sometimes, Botox can be used as a temporary solution for uneven brows, giving you a non-surgical brow lift and a more symmetrical appearance.
• Cosmetic surgery – Different cosmetic surgeries are available for lifting your brows, raising eyelids, and more.
• Other surgery options – More extensive surgeries like orbital surgery are available to repair the orbital area (eye socket) of the eye.

Should You Be Worried?

Although you may be asking yourself, “why is one eye bigger than the other”? The answer is, most people’s eyes are not perfectly even. It’s totally normal. As long as you know that it isn’t due to a medical condition or it doesn’t hinder your vision, you should not be worried at all. In fact, it is extremely rare for asymmetrical eyes to be caused by a medical condition in the first place.

If you find yourself still wanting to know more, call us to schedule an eye exam. We would love to answer any questions you may have as well as teach you more about healthy vision habits for the future.