What causes translucent or thin eyelids?

Thinner eyelids are usually seen in people with low melanin levels, mainly Caucasians, said Dr Supriya Sriganesh.

Recently, digital creator Dr. Dana Brems shared a video on Instagram highlighting how her unusually thin eyelids made her eyeballs visible through the skin. This sparked curiosity about why some people have such translucent eyelids.

To shed light on this phenomenon, Dr. Supriya Sriganesh from Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital in Bangalore and Dr. Anita Sethi from Max Super Speciality Centre in Delhi provided their insights.

Translucency Linked to Melanin Content

Dr. Sriganesh explained that some people have a particularly thin tarsal plate, a structure within the eyelid. This thinness is most commonly observed in Caucasians, whose skin contains less melanin.

Melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color, also adds to the opacity of the skin. With lower melanin levels, Caucasians tend to have more translucent skin, and this can extend to the eyelids, making them appear thinner.

Age-Related Thinning of Eyelids

Aging is another factor that contributes to thinning eyelids. Dr. Sethi pointed out that, over time, the skin loses elasticity and becomes stretched, leading to a condition called ptosis, where the eyelids droop.

This condition is particularly common in lighter-skinned individuals and can impact vision, often requiring corrective surgery or special glasses.

Blepharochalasis: An Allergic Cause

Dr. Sethi also mentioned another condition that can result in thinner eyelids—blepharochalasis, a condition characterized by repeated episodes of allergic swelling in younger individuals.

Over time, these episodes can stretch and thin the eyelid skin, leading to drooping that may obstruct vision.

In summary, thin or translucent can result from genetic factors like low melanin content, age-related changes, or conditions like blepharochalasis, all of which can impact both appearance and vision.