Do you have upper eyelids that droop and make you look like you’re sleepy all the time? Do they sag so low that it partially or completely covers your eye, making it hard for you to see properly?
What you have is a condition medically known as ptosis or blepharoptosis. This condition may affect one eye or two eyes and can range in severity. People with ptosis have difficulty keeping their eyes open.
Drooping eyelids can make your eyes look asymmetrical, but they are more than just a cosmetic concern. According to Houston LASIK & Eye, a top Houston eye care facility, it is a functional problem that can impact your life. It can restrict or, in severe cases, block your vision. Ptosis in children, if left untreated, can lead to other conditions, such as astigmatism or amblyopia (lazy eye).
Causes of Drooping Eyelids
Anybody can potentially get drooping eyelids, even the rich and the famous like Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and singer Lenny Kravitz have dealt with the condition.
There are many ways to ptosis. You may be born with is. Our eyelids have muscles called levators, and their main function is to raise the upper eyelid. People born with congenital ptosis have weak levators.
If the drooping eyelids develop later, it is referred to as acquired ptosis. The most common culprit behind acquired ptosis is the age-related weakening of the muscles. Though ptosis is common among older people, people of all ages can be affected by ptosis. Drooping eyelids can also be the result of:
- Injury, trauma, systemic disorder, or diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, Hornder syndrome, muscular dystrophy, and myasthenia gravis.
- Drugs, such as morphine and hydrocodone
- Long-term use of hard contact lenses
- Eye surgery, such as LASIK and cataract surgery
Can Ptosis Be Corrected?
There are many types of treatment for ptosis, but first, your eye doctor will get your medical history, perform a physical examination, and run some tests to determine the most appropriate form of correction for the patient.
If the underlying cause is disease, such as cancer or a tumor, treating the illness also resolves the eyelid problem.
If you have myasthenia gravis, a muscle weakness disorder, you may be prescribed medications that improve muscle contraction and strength, such as pyridostigmine and neostigmine.
If the drooping of eyelids is caused by laser eye surgery, cataract surgery, use of contact lenses, aging, or congenital ptosis, the problem can be corrected surgically. The procedure is called blepharoplasty, and the goal is to raise the eyelid to permit a full field of vision. From a cosmetic perspective, blepharoplasty is done to improve the appearance of the eyes.
One surgical technique is to create an incision in the upper lid crease, then tighten the levators to lift the eyelid. Eyelid surgery is typically an outpatient procedure.
Who Should I Approach for Ptosis Surgery?
Ptosis surgery is best performed by ophthalmologists who specialize in eyelid surgery, as this type of procedure requires extensive experience for best results and minimal complications.
Houston LASIK & Eye leads in providing premium LASIK technologies to Houston, Sugar Land, and the surrounding region. The Center’s award-winning medical director introduced revolutionary technologies such as iLASIK to the region. This technology is used by NASA astronauts, Navy SEALS and Air Force fighter pilots. At Houston LASIK & Eye, you can now receive the same treatment. For more information, please call (281) 240-0478.
Resources:
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/drooping-eyelids-description
