The relationship between wearing glasses and worsening dark circles has always been one of the topics of concern in clinical dermatology and visual health. Dark circles are often believed to be caused by lack of sleep, life stress or genetic factors. However, with the gradual increase in the number of people wearing glasses, more and more studies and case reports have shown that there may be a significant correlation between wearing glasses and the formation and aggravation of dark circles. This article will conduct a systematic analysis from the aspects of the formation mechanism of dark circles, the potential impact of glasses on the skin around the eyes, the results of relevant population surveys, and improvement suggestions, in order to provide a reference for clinical practice and personal care.
1. Analysis of the cause mechanism of dark circles
Dark circles are medically known as "periorbital pigmentation" or "lower eyelid pigmentation", which mainly manifests as dark, black or bluish-purple color of the lower eyelid skin. According to clinical manifestations and pathological mechanisms, dark circles can be mainly divided into the following categories:
Vascular dark circles : They are caused by poor blood circulation in the eyes and venous congestion. They often appear as blue-purple shadows and are more obvious in people with thinner skin.
Pigmented dark circles : often caused by genetic factors or long-term ultraviolet radiation stimulating the formation of melanin deposition, more likely to occur in people with darker skin.
Structural dark circles : The sunken orbital structure and tear trough formation create shadows around the eyes, which look like dark circles.
Mixed dark circles : caused by the combined effects of the above factors, it is relatively difficult to treat.
2. The mechanism of the effect of wearing glasses on the skin around the eyes
Although glasses, as a tool for visual correction, do not directly cause dark circles, their wearing method, material, weight and frame structure may indirectly affect the health of the skin around the eyes.
Frame compression causes local circulatory obstruction
Wearing glasses for a long time, especially heavy frames, may cause continuous pressure on the bridge of the nose and the skin around the eye sockets. This pressure may affect the local blood and lymph circulation, causing obstruction of venous return around the eyes, thereby aggravating the manifestation of vascular dark circles.
Frame blocking affects lighting
The edge of the frame blocks light, which may cause the skin around the eyes to be in a darker environment for a long time, reducing the stimulation of ultraviolet rays on the metabolism of melanin in the skin, thereby affecting the efficiency of skin metabolism and aggravating pigmented dark circles.
Impact of lens reflection and blue light transmission
Most modern glasses have anti-blue light or anti-UV coatings, but some low-quality lenses have high reflectivity and may reflect light to the skin around the eyes, causing micro-inflammatory reactions and further stimulating melanin production. In addition, wearing ordinary lenses while using electronic devices for a long time may also increase eye fatigue and indirectly affect blood circulation around the eyes.
Skin inflammation caused by improper cleaning
The frames of glasses come into contact with the skin frequently. If they are not cleaned regularly, they may breed bacteria, causing local mild inflammatory reactions, stimulating pigment deposition or inducing allergies, and aggravating dark circles.
3. Observations and Statistical Data of Relevant Populations
In recent years, epidemiological studies on the relationship between eyeglass wearers and the severity of dark circles have gradually increased. An observational study conducted among urban college students in China pointed out:
① Among those who wear glasses all year round, 62% have obvious dark circles under their eyes, while this proportion is only 43% among those who do not wear glasses;
②. People who wear glasses made of heavy metal frames have a higher incidence of dark circles;
③. For those who wear the glasses for more than 10 hours a day, the symptoms of dark circles are more obvious than those who wear them for a short time.
These data show that although glasses themselves are not the direct cause of dark circles, there is a positive correlation between wearing habits and the aggravation of dark circles.
4. Comprehensive suggestions for improving dark circles and wearing glasses
In order to reduce the negative impact of glasses, it is recommended to start from the following aspects:
Choose lightweight frames and suitable nose pads
Try to choose a frame that is lighter in weight and has a comfortable nose pad to reduce pressure around the eye sockets. The soft and adjustable nose pad structure can help disperse the weight of the frame and reduce the impact on blood flow.
Reasonably arrange your eye time to reduce eye fatigue
Regular eye relaxation exercises, such as the 20-20-20 rule (looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes of eye use), can help relieve eye muscle tension and promote blood circulation.
Strengthen eye contour skin care
Using gentle eye care products, such as eye creams containing caffeine, vitamin K, and green tea extract, can effectively improve microcirculation around the eyes and reduce pigmentation.
Pay attention to frame cleaning and wearing hygiene
Use alcohol pads to clean the frame and nose pads at least once a day to avoid long-term skin contact with areas where bacteria breed.
Switch to contact lenses or vision correction as appropriate
For individuals with obvious dark circles who need to wear glasses for a long time, contact lenses or laser correction can be considered under the guidance of a doctor based on their vision condition to reduce the physical impact of glasses on the skin around the eyes.
5. Medical Significance of Eyeglass-related Dark Circles
As society pays more attention to appearance, dark circles are no longer just a cosmetic issue, but are more likely to affect an individual's social, self-confidence and even psychological state. When facing patients with dark circles, clinical workers should not only pay attention to traditional causes, but also actively inquire about their glasses wearing habits, and give comprehensive advice based on the type of glasses, wearing time and personal skin condition. At the same time, they should strengthen public science education on the correct wearing of glasses and eye care.
Beauty Encyclopedia Tips:
Glasses are not the root cause of dark circles, but improper wearing methods may indeed become an auxiliary factor that induces or aggravates the condition. In daily life, optimizing frame selection, improving wearing habits, strengthening eye care, and other means can effectively reduce the burden of glasses on the skin around the eyes. If dark circles persist or gradually worsen, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time, rule out the possibility of systemic diseases, understand the causes fundamentally, and conduct personalized interventions. Scientifically wearing glasses combined with reasonable living habits are effective ways to reduce the trouble of dark circles.