Here Are The Actual Risks Of Getting Under-Eye Fillers

One of the reasons injectables have become so popular are because of their "non-invasive" nature. When performed correctly, FDA-approved fillers cause minimal disruption to tissue. Still, there have been documented cases of devastating complications, the most serious being comprising vascular occlusions, which can lead to "necrosis (tissue death), scarring and, even more seriously, blindness," according to the Harley Academy. Hyaluronic acid is the most frequently used soft tissue filler in practice and the second most common (after autologous fat injections) associated with ocular complications. 

One study in 2015 reported 98 cases of blindness from soft tissue facial fillers. Out of those cases, 65 led to unilateral vision loss, and only two of the cases were reversible. The blindness is caused by a condition called retinal artery occlusion (RAO), which is when a blood clot or blockage of an artery prevents blood from reaching the eye. The under-eye and forehead areas, in particular, are filled with many blood vessels that make them more susceptible to RAO from improper filler use, according to Millicent Odunze Geers, MD, MPH. In general, though, complications from injectables are quite rare, with researchers estimating that only 50 cases occur a year. 

Other less serious, common side effects include swelling, bruising, redness, and temporary pain.