as skin ages, it gradually loses its elasticity. a lack of elasticity plus the constant pull from gravity causes excessive skin to collect on the upper and lower eyelids.
excess skin on the lower eyelid causes wrinkles and bulges. on the upper eyelids, an extra fold of skin can hang over the eyelashes and get in the way of seeing. eyelid surgery (also called an eye lift or blepharoplasty), reduces bagginess from lower eyelids and removes excess skin from the upper eyelids. this surgery is usually done for cosmetic reasons. it's also an effective way to improve sight in older people whose sagging upper eyelids get in the way of their vision.
an eye lift will not eliminate dark circles under the eyes, crow's feet, or other facial wrinkles. it is often done along with other procedures such as laser resurfacing, filler injections, or forehead lifts. the fat that cushions the eyeball from the skull can also cause bulges in the upper and lower eyelids. the thin membrane that holds the fat in place weakens with age, letting the fat come forward into the lids like a hernia.