Doctors can treat a droopy eyelid with surgery, although this may depend on the cause. Reasons why an eyelid may droop include genetics or damage to the eye, and the condition is more likely with age. Treatment may not be necessary in cases where there is no impact on vision.
In some cases, a droopy eyelid may resolve spontaneously. If ptosis is present but not causing any functional problems, a person may not need any treatment at all. Treatment options depend on what is causing the droopy eyelid, how it is affecting the person, and the person's age.
A drooping eyelid can stay constant, worsen over time (be progressive), or come and go (be intermittent). The expected outcome depends on the cause of the ptosis. In most cases, surgery is very successful in restoring appearance and function. In children, more severe drooping eyelids may lead to lazy eye or amblyopia.
Adults get ptosis – called involutional ptosis – when the levator muscle stretches and separates from the eyelid. This can be caused by aging, as a result of an eye injury, or sometimes as a side effect of certain eye surgery. Occasionally other diseases can affect the eyelid muscle, causing ptosis.
Although there is no evidence that exercises for droopy eyelids actually work, some people believe that exercising the muscles of the face can strengthen and tighten them. If droopy eyelids are obscuring vision or having a negative effect on a person, they should consult their doctor.
One of the options for nonsurgical eyelid lift is called the EyeGlow™ procedure. This is a unique technique using various dermal fillers in addition to our SkinTyte laser followed by dermal infusion of hydrating serums.
It can take from 6-12 months after trauma for the eyelids to return to their normal position. In some cases (usually direct eyelid or orbital trauma) they do not, and ptosis (droopy eyelid) repair is needed to regain normal eyelid position.
A droopy eyelid can last from several weeks to several months or until Botox wears off. Patients usually notice the first signs of this side effect within the first week.
Lack of sleep can cause droopy eyelids because, frankly, your eyes are exhausted. When you sleep, it allows the levator muscles to rest and recharge so they're able to keep your eyes open the next day. If proper rest isn't achieved, the levator muscles become fatigued — just like any other muscle — and weaken.
Droopy eyelids can be related to aging, or occur as a result of injury or an underlying medical condition. When the eyelid of one or both eyes droops, it often points to a condition called ptosis. What makes ptosis different from hooded eyes is that the skin covering the eyeball droops; not the skin near the brow.
What causes hooded eyes? Hooded eyes or droopy eyelids happen when excess skin folds down from the brow bone to the lash line, which makes the eyes look smaller and gives you a tired or aged appearance. Hooded eyes can appear due to a genetic predisposition or due to natural ageing changing our face.
You're born with it, but symptoms might not show up until after age 40. Both eyelids might sag. You might not be able to see very well, and tongue and throat problems may make it hard to eat. Surgery can help fix your ptosis.
It's often present from birth. This is often due to a problem with a main eyelid muscle. Sometimes it happens later in life.
If you suddenly develop a drooping eyelid, you should contact your doctor. Because the involved eyelid may sag to the extent that it covers the pupil of the eye, it may interfere with normal vision by obscuring the upper aspect of the field of vision.
Botox for Drooping Eyelids
An in-office procedure, the Botox injections work to relax that muscle and thereby tighten up the sagging skin of the eyelid. Not to mention, the Botox helps to dissipate the appearance of wrinkles in and around the eyelid area.
These include Botox, dermal fillers, radio frequency and laser treatments. Botox and filler injections, for example, may help you raise your brows and achieve more prominent eyes. Radiofrequency and laser procedures can also be used to lift and tighten the skin around the eyes and improve their appearance.
Continual exposure to blue light on the many digital devices we fill our lives with leads to digital eye strain. This digital eye strain is particularly problematic because it can lead to eyelid drooping over time in such a gradual way that makes it harder to notice.
Ptosis is often a long-term problem. In most children with untreated congenital ptosis, the condition is fairly stable and does not get worse as the child grows. In people with age-related ptosis, however, the drooping can increase gradually over the years.
Ptosis is an ophthalmic sign of dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a drooping eyelid, schedule an eye exam as soon as possible. Your eye doctor will conduct a full history to determine what may be causing the ptosis and the most appropriate treatment plan.