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Anatomy of the eye and eyelids

Alongside the eyebrows, the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane lining the eyelids), the lacrimal apparatus (which releases tears) and the muscles that open and close the eyes, the eyelids are part of what specialists call the eye’s accessory structures. Their primary function is to protect the eye. Eyelid surgery includes both reconstructive and aesthetic procedures(eyelid & oculoplastic surgery in Paris).
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The appendages of the eyeball: anatomy and role

The structures surrounding the eyeball are its appendages: the eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal apparatus and oculomotor muscles:

The eyelids

Each eye has an upper and lower eyelid, which completely cover the eyeball when brought together. Their role is not only to physically protect the eye, but also to ensure the even distribution of tears (the tear film) through the movements and blinks that sweep the cornea, thus preventing eye dryness and irritation.

Eyelashes are implanted at the edge of the eyelids, and their function is not only aesthetic: they also act as a protective barrier, preventing dirt and dust from entering the eye.

The upper eyelid is much more mobile than the lower. It lifts to open the eye, thanks to the action of the upper eyelid levator muscle. The other eyelid muscle is the orbicularis muscle, which surrounds the eyeball and contracts to close the eye.

Good to know: a deficiency of the levator muscle of the upper eyelid can be responsible for ptosis: the upper eyelid falls too far over the eye. Before undergoing upper blepharoplasty, it is essential that the oculoplastic surgeon identifies this problem and corrects it. Otherwise, the result of the operation will be disappointing.

Depending on the region of the body, the epidermis, the superficial layer of skin, is more or less thick: 2 to 3 millimeters on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands, but less than 0.5 millimeters on the eyelids. If eyelids are one of the first areas of the face to age, it’s because of this thinness of the skin, combined with the high mobility of the upper eyelid and surrounding tissues (inter-eyelid zone, crow’s feet).

Tear glands

Located in the upper eyelids, the lacrimal glands continuously secrete tears, which spread over the surface of the eye, draining into the tear ducts at the corner of the eye (internal canthus) and finally into the nose. That’s why you need to blow your nose when you cry…

Tears are, of course, mostly water, but they also contain other components (mucus, lipids, proteins, etc.), each of which plays a protective role: it limits water evaporation, helps the tear film adhere to the ocular surface, forms a defensive barrier against microbes, and so on.

Dry eyes may occur in the days following oculoplastic surgery. If you experience discomfort, instilling tear substitutes (artificial tears) can provide relief while the tear film is reconstituted. Tearing may also occur: this is transitory, most often due to post-operative swelling that prevents tears from flowing normally through the tear duct.

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