The eyelid also plays a role in eye health
Eyelid care
The eyelids are the movable folds of skin that cover the front of the eye, and their main function is to protect the eyeball.
Eyelashes grow from the edge of the eyelids, and this is where the Meibomian glands are located.
Proper eyelid care is important for preventing conditions associated with this part of the periocular area. To help prevent these conditions, here are some tips to follow: Para poder prevenir la aparición de estas, algunos de los consejos a seguir son:
- Remove make-up from the eyelid area daily using specific products such as eye make-up remover wipes.
- Use moisturising, decongestant and antioxidant gels and/or creams.
- Wear sunglasses with UV protection to prevent oxidation of the eyelid skin and the appearance of wrinkles.
- Avoid rubbing the eyelid area with your hands if it feels itchy, so as not to irritate the skin and cause micro-injuries. Use specific creams in these cases.
- Use hypoallergenic and specialised make-up products.
Main functions of the eyelids
A) Maintain the tear film
The function of the tear film is to protect the eye from external influences and to maintain the health of the cornea and conjunctiva.
- Optical function, as it maintains an optically uniform corneal surface.
- Mechanical function, involving the flushing of cellular debris and foreign substances from the cornea and the conjunctival sac, and the lubrication of the surface.
- Nutrition for the cornea
- Antibacterial function
The tear film consists of three layers of different composition. The inner layer (mucinous layer), the middle layer (aqueous layer) and the outer layer (lipid layer). The lipid layer is formed by secretions from the Meibomian glands, located in the eyelids. These glands are sebaceous glands that secrete the lipids that form part of the outer layer of the tear.
B) Protection
The eyelids close to protect the eye; in fact, this is a reflex when something approaches the eyeball. That is why, when there is an injury to the surface of the eye, one of the most common symptoms is the tendency to keep the eye closed. It is remarkable how well-coordinated the eyelids are, opening just enough for us to see, whilst the rest of the eyeball above or below the cornea remains covered. When we look down, the upper eyelid follows the movement of the eye, so that the upper part is not exposed. And the lower eyelid does the same (to a lesser extent) when we look up.