Festoons are a form of swelling on the cheekbone under the eye that is most common in patients with Graves Disease. These may be present without any other symptoms, but they can also be associated with other more serious conditions such as orbital disease or thyroid eye disease.

If you have a “festoon” on your cheekbone, the situation may be more complicated. If a patient has a cheekbone swelling that is large and pushes into the eye socket, it can make her face appear more sunken. This can be embarrassing for many. It is important not to make any assumptions about how this swelling developed without talking to an eye doctor.”

A festoon is a swelling that goes from the cheekbone to the ear and involves both the outer and inner surfaces of the eyelid. A patient with a festoon may find his or her vision impaired, primarily because tears cannot drain properly. Because festers are often congenital, they may worsen throughout life as muscle movement occurs in response to emotions such as crying or laughing.

When a person is experiencing an outbreak, they will notice small bumps on the cheeks and forehead. The bumps resemble a string of beads, which is where they got their name. The bumps will start small and grow in size until they become large enough to be felt by hand when gently pressed.