The phrase, “the eyes are the window to the  soul” was  first quoted by Saint Mathew around 50 AD and  by many others throughout history.   The eyes and surrounding structures impart either a  youthful, rested look or a tired, old appearance. When meeting a person  for the first time or greeting a long time friend, eye contact evokes the first impression. Not looking  directly  into a person’s eyes  implies a  fear or hesitation in the encounter.
In today’s  competitive  job market, the initial impression you convey to a prospective employer includes  not only appropriate attire but also your eye contact. There are  a number of procedures you can consider to make your eye contact  more elegant and  youthful.
What features of the eye and  surrounding structures distract from a  youthful look? The position of the eyebrow relative to the upper rim of the  orbit defines  the first  impression. When the eyebrow sags, a person  looks tired; if it is very high, the person appears startled. Proper brow position  allows enough  space  between it and the upper eyelashes to give a youthful appearance. If the brow sags slightly, non-invasive  procedures such as Thermage® can be used to elevate the brow without  surgery. If the eyebrow is  positioned  correctly, a plastic surgeon evaluates whether the  upper eyelid skin is  hooded.  Sagging and hooding of the upper eyelid skin can be so severe as to obstruct vision. In these instances,  surgical  correction is necessary.
 Women  desire a deep  crease in the upper eyelid in order to apply adequate makeup. Estheticians apply a white, bone or champagne shadow swept up to  the rim of the brow, which  gives the eyes a larger appearance. They  line  both the top and bottom of the eyelid  margin  with a  dark liquid liner, making the upper line slightly thicker.
Hyperpigmentation  or  dark circles of the lower eyelids are  very  common and distract  from a  rested  look. The cause  may be age related, genetics or allergies. Treating  the allergy is the  first step to improving the appearance.  Certain facial  peels such as ViPeel™ can appreciably improve  dark  circles, though  temporarily. Retinoids and eye  creams with vitamin C, E and K  are marketed  to decrease  dark  circles with limited results.  Estheticians  recommend using  pink- or peach-tone  concealer to help neutralize the  subcutaneous blue  tone to the skin.
Swollen or “puffy” eyelids are  again associated with allergies or  genetics. Sometimes water retention and thyroid  disorders also  contribute to this condition. If the cause is not a  medical  condition,  surgical  correction  should be considered for a definitive improvement. This is  for  the most  part an  easy  surgical procedure performed  under local anesthesia with  sedation. It is  done as an outpatient in a  surgery center with very little discomfort and  takes about  one  hour to  perform.
The last concern  for most  women are those pesky “ crow’s feet.”  which are a result of  muscle contraction associated with smiling, laughing and squinting. Maintaining adequate  hydration  by drinking plenty of water throughout the day may help a little. Since the cause is  muscle contraction, injecting  Botox or Dysport  blocks  periorbital  muscle  contractions, thereby relaxing the  muscle and smoothing out the crow’s feet. Although the  treatment  will last 3-5 months, most women are very happy with the improvement as  exhibited by their happy smiles.
Consider   making an appointment with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to discuss your “eye” concerns.