How Can I Fix My Uneven Eyes?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m a 22 year old female and I’ve had uneven eyes since I was young, this is my biggest insecurity. I can’t even look my boyfriend in the eyes without feeling insecure. I’m not sure if it’s my eyelids that makes them look uneven or if it’s my literal eyes being uneven. What surgery would help this? Or would surgery help at all?  My biggest wish is to fix this.

A:What you have is aesthetic vertical orbital dystopia (VOD) which means there is a 5mm or less discrepancy between the two orbital boxes. (the eye and all structures that surround it) Your right orbital box is lower by probably 3mms or so. The lower upper eyelid is just one symptom of VOD but it is everything that is lower. (eyebrow, brow bone, upper eyelid, eyeball, infraorbital rim, lower eyelid and cheek bone) Thus any surgical approach to VOD correction must incorporate adjustments of most if not all of the periorbital anatomy to look right. You can’t just correct one component of it (e.g., raise the upper eyelid as more of the iris or sclera of the eye will show just making the asymmetry look worse) A 3D CT scan is needed to clearly show the anatomic differences at the bone level from which VOD treatment planning can be done. 

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana