How Can My Asymmetrical Eyes Be Fixed?

Q: Dr. Eppley, My eyes are so asymmetrical they stick out like a sour thumb in every picture and in certain lighting. I really need to do something about this but I don’t even know where to begin because every doctor says something different. It’s definitely orbital asymmetry. What can be done about this?

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending all of your pictures. What you have is a classic vertical orbital dysfopia (VOD) probably in the 3mm range. In VOD the eyeball and all structures around it are positioned lower than the other side. While the eyeball can be raised up the correction is not quite that aesthetically simple as all the surrounding structures (eyebrow, eyelids and cheek) are made for where the eye is now. So just moving the eyeball alone will actually make the asymmetries worse.

There are two fundamental approaches to VOD…complete correction or camouflage. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. In complete correction all the structures are treated. (raised)  In camouflage the eyeball is left alone and the most obvious causes of the surrounding asymmetry are treated. (e.g., eyebrow and eye corner lifts) See attached imaging to show the differences.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana