Updated on  February 22, 2024
5 min read

What Are Hooded Eyes? Can You Get Rid of Them?

7 sources cited
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Hooded eyes refer to excess skin that folds below the brow bone.6 They can even reach the lash line. 

Hooded eyes are a completely normal and common hereditary trait. You may have just one hooded eye. But, generally, you would have hooded eyelids for both eyes.

Some hooded eyes may also happen with age. Aging eyelids can change the appearance and shape of your eyes, making them look droopy.

How to Tell if You Have Hooded Eyes

images of two woman with hooded eyes and non-hooded eyes

If the skin below your brow touches your lash line or comes close to it, you may have hooded eyes. Hooded eyes tend to sink deeply. You will not see a big eyelid space. Rather, you will see a crease.

What Causes Hooded Eyes?

Here are some of the common causes of hooded eyes:

Genetics

Most people are born with hooded eyes. It is a natural and normal eye shape and a hereditary trait. If your parents have hooded eyes, it’s more likely that you will inherit them. That said, not everyone with hooded eyes passes the trait to their children.

Aging

As you age, your skin loses elasticity. The skin around your eyes may start to sag and push down on the skin that covers the eyelid. This can then cause hooded eyes.

Underlying Fat and Muscle

You may also have hooded eyes due to your underlying fat and muscle structure. Their structure can determine how your eyes may look. This means it can also determine whether or not you have hooded eyes.

Trauma and Medical Treatments

Head trauma and certain medical treatments alter your face’s appearance, resulting in hooded eyes. For instance, injuries to the side of your head change your eyes’ appearance.

4 Ways to Correct Hooded Eyes

Here are various ways to help you correct hooded eyes:

1. Hooded Eye Surgery

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, removes excess skin or fat from the eyelids.5  The procedure may be done under local or general anesthetic.5 It is up to you and your doctor to decide the best option.

Eyelid surgery, like all surgeries, comes at a cost and is not without risks. It may cost a few thousand dollars. The cost varies depending on where you get it done, as well as insurance coverage. The risks involve a hematoma, scarring, and blurry vision.5

2. Injectables

If you don’t want surgery, injectables such as Botox and dermal fillers can help correct hooded eyes. These treatments lift the eyebrow or fix slight eyebrow drooping.

Botox is a toxin derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It works by paralyzing muscles. On the other hand, fillers are substances used to plump up areas of the face. They are usually made of hyaluronic acid, collagen, or both.

These treatments are temporary and last anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

3. Eye Makeup 

Eye makeup for hooded eyes can maximize your lid space. There are several makeup tips and tricks to make hooded eyes look less ‘hooded.’

Hooded eye makeup is not necessarily easy to apply. It includes eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, and more. However, these makeup techniques can make your eyes look bigger and give the illusion that you do not have excess skin. Tapes and glues also exist to pull the eyelid upward.

4. Eye Lift Creams

Other options, like eye lift creams, are available over the counter in most pharmacies. These products hydrate and tighten your skin so that your hooded eyes look more refreshed. However, eye creams are generally not the best stand-alone options for hooded or droopy eyes. 

5. Laser Therapy

Laser therapy uses intense and narrow beams of light to tighten the skin around your eyes. It stimulates collagen production, resulting in firmer skin. This helps correct hooded eyes.

6. Thread Lifts

A thread lift is a non-surgical procedure that uses dissolvable threads to lift up your face. These threads can be inserted into your temples and tighten sagging skin that cause hooded eyes.

7. Eye Drops

Some eye drops are made to temporarily improve droopy eyelids. It causes your upper eyelid to tighten and contract. Upneeq is the most famous FDA-approved eye drops for this purpose.

Should I See a Doctor for Hooded Eyes?

You do not need to see a doctor for hooded eyes. Hooded eyes are a natural sign of aging.

If you want to remove your hooded eyes, consult your doctor about surgery options. If your hooded eyes prevent you from seeing clearly, talk to your doctor about treatment.1

Are Hooded Eyes More Common in Certain Ethnicities?

Hooded eyes may be more common in Asians. However, this isn’t always the case. You may also have hooded eyes if you’re another ethnicity. Again, different factors cause hooded eyes, and your eye shape may change as you age.

Hooded Eyes vs. Droopy Eyes

Hooded eyes are not necessarily droopy eyes, though some hooded eyes may appear droopy. Most hooded eyes are deeply set, meaning the eyelid has a larger crease, and the brow bone is more prominent. Hooded eyes are a natural eye shape. 

Droopy eyes are a result of aging and skin sagging. They can cause vision problems. If you develop droopy eyes inhibiting your vision, you may consult your doctor.

What Celebrities Have Hooded Eyes?

Tons of celebrities have hooded eyes that reach their lash line. Of course, most celebrities have beauty professionals who do their liner, shadows, lashes, and brows. After all, a little eyeliner, eye shadow, and mascara can go a long way.

You may not notice that Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, and Camilla Belle have hooded eyelids.3

Are Hooded Eyes Attractive?

Hooded eyes are not necessarily a cause for concern. Hooded eyes are a common trait. Many people are born with this eye shape. This eye shape is considered attractive by many people. 

Anyone can also develop hooded eyes, especially as they get older.4 You shouldn’t be ashamed of or embarrassed by developing hooded eyes. They’re a natural sign of aging that are still attractive.

What are the Other Types of Eye Shapes?

There are about 10 other eye shapes out there, including:

  1. Almond eyes
  2. Round eyes
  3. Monolid eyes
  4. Protruding eyes
  5. Downturned eyes
  6. Upturned eyes
  7. Close set eyes
  8. Wide set eyes
  9. Deep-set eyes

Summary

Hooded eyes are a completely normal and hereditary eye shape. While there are ways to correct hooded eyes, you don’t need to worry if you have this feature. Many celebrities have hooded eyes and even consider this eye shape attractive.

Updated on  February 22, 2024
7 sources cited
Updated on  February 22, 2024
  1. The Aging Eye: When to Worry about Eyelid Problems.” Harvard Health, 2019.
  2.  Stepko, B. “Understanding Belpharoplasty, Eyelid Plastic Surgery.” AARP, 11 June 2019.
  3. Dougher, Kelly. “The 6 Essential Makeup Tips for Hooded Eyes.” , StyleCaster, 2018.
  4. Drooping Eyelid (Ptosis).” Harvard Health, 2020.
  5. Eyelid Surgery.” NHS Choices.
  6. What Are Hooded Eyes?” Cadogan Clinic London.
The information provided on VisionCenter.org should not be used in place of actual information provided by a doctor or a specialist.