What are droopy eyelids?

What are droopy eyelids?

Droopy eyelids, otherwise known as ptosis, refers to the sagging of the eyelids over the eyes.

This can affect one (unilateral ptosis) or both of the eyes (bilateral ptosis). Drooping eyelids are not painful and the degree of drooping can vary greatly from person to person.

Most of the time, this drooping is barely noticeable. But in extreme cases, the droopy upper lid can cover the eye enough to cause visual impairment. The extent of this depends on how much of the pupil is covered by the drooping lid. In extreme cases, the eyelids can obscure the vision so much that a person has to tilt their head backwards in order to see properly, for example when holding a conversation. Someone with ptosis may find they need to raise their eyebrows to lift their lids to allow for better vision. In some cases, ptosis can cause eye strain, headache and brow ache.

Ptosis can make the eyes appear tired and they may ache. Drooping eyelids may cause the eyes to water or feel extremely dry.

Anyone can have drooping eyelids as the condition is not prevalent in any particular gender or ethnicity. However it is far more common in older adults. The condition may come and go, or it may be permanent. It can be present from birth (congenital ptosis), or develop later in life (acquired ptosis), through age, trauma, or some other medical condition.

Although eyelid drooping is usually just a cosmetic issue, you should consult a doctor to ensure that the ptosis is not a sign of an underlying medical condition.

If your vision is seriously impaired by drooping eyelids, you should not drive until the condition has been treated. 

Ptosis surgery is the only effective treatment for drooping eyelids.

What causes ptosis?

What is ptosis surgery?

The only really effective ptosis treatment is surgery.

Blepharoplasty, otherwise known as eyelid reduction surgery, is the one lifting procedure which rarely needs to be repeated. Blepharoplasty involves the removal of loose skin and excess fatty tissues around the eye area, tightening the relaxed muscles and giving the skin a firmer, more youthful appearance.

At the start of the procedure, you will be invited to lay down and anaesthetic drops will be put in your eyes. The treatment area will be cleaned and the surgeon will mark up the areas of skin for removal. A local anesthetic will be administered.

The surgery is quick and usually takes around 45 minutes per eye. Due to the anesthetic, you will feel no pain, but you may experience a slight tugging sensation on your eyelid during the potsis surgery. 

The wounds are then closed with stitches, ointment is applied and special dressing is placed on the affected eye(s). Once you have spent some time recovering in the clinic, you will be free to leave on the same day with a friend or family member to continue your ptosis surgery recovery at home.

Your eye may be sore for a day or two after ptosis surgery. Over-the-counter painkillers should help with this.

Blepharoplasty surgery can give life-changing results and our experienced expert surgeons will not change the shape of the eyes, unless this is the aim. Surgery has evolved in recent years and less muscle fat and skin are being removed.

Whilst the occasional non-surgical touch-up may be required to maintain the full effects of droopy eyelid surgery, another skin excision is unlikely and you can expect droopy eyelids to be restored following one surgery.

Ptosis surgery can be combined with a brow lift for an improved result.

Why do people have it?

Who is suitable?

Ptosis surgery is suitable for anyone who wants to rid themselves of drooping eyelids for whatever reason. If the condition is affecting your vision and this is significantly impacting on your day-to-day life, then surgery is highly recommended.

People who have unilateral ptosis may seek out droopy eyelid surgery in their 30s. For age-related ptosis, most patients are aged in their 50s and 60s, although this surgery can be performed on older people.

Droopy eyelid surgery can be performed on children to help avoid future vision problems from developing.

What are the non surgical options for ptosis treatment?

One of the most common questions we are asked is ‘can you fix ptosis without surgery?’.

Unfortunately, the non-surgical treatment options for ptosis are very limited. Many of these which claim to alleviate the condition do not produce the same results as surgery and can result in a lot of wasted time and money.

The root cause of the ptosis could be treated, depending on what is behind this drooping of the eyelids. In the case of medical causes, ptosis can disappear naturally if the condition is successfully treated, for example where the drooping eyelids are caused by neurological condition myasthenia gravis. Sometimes ptosis can be caused by a heavy brow, which can be treated with anti-aging injectables, without the need for surgery.

Sometimes glasses fitted with a ‘ptosis prop’ or ‘ptosis crutch’ can be prescribed to help hold the drooping upper eyelid in its correct position. However this treatment is really only effective for temporary drooping.

Eye patches, dietary changes and vitamin supplements are not effective treatments for ptosis.

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