Yes, you’re reading that title correctly. The condition of the term “drooping eyelids”or, to use the medical term—ptosis does indeed exist. Drooping eyelids can make you look tired and older, regardless of your energy level. Many people want to keep their appearance matching how they feel inside, so they turn to oculoplastic professionals to help them. Eyelid surgery is an incredibly effective way to tighten up the skin around your eyes. It can improve many kinds of cosmetic insecurities and even improve some people’s vision.

How Do Droopy Eyelids Develop?

There are many different reasons as to why a person might develop drooping eyelids. These may include injuries to the eye, the natural aging process, and even being born with the condition. Mechanically-speaking, what are known as the levator muscles essentially “hold up” the eyelids. When these muscles don’t function properly, the eyelids droop.

How Do Droopy Eyelids Affect Vision?

Eyelids are essential for maintaining the health of your eyes. They also spread tears across the surface of the eyes to keep them lubricated. However, eyelids also need to be lifted enough to be out of the way when you need to see. Since eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on the body, it can easily stretch and cause an undesired appearance. You can also develop ptosis, a condition that causes the eyelids to droop and only be able to open partially. In some cases, the skin or eyelids can block the pupil, affecting your field of vision. 

What are my Options for Fixing Drooping Eyelids?

The treatment—or “fixing”­­—of this condition depends on how serious it is. Should a person have drooping eyelids, but is still able to see properly, his or her eye doctor may decide that treatment is not necessary. If the condition is severe, however, and vision becomes heavily or completely blocked in one eye (or both eyes), specialized surgery will likely be recommended, and conducted by an oculoplastic surgeon. Eyelid surgery can improve the appearance of your eyes and approve the function of your eyelids. Insurance does not often cover eyelid surgery when performed to accomplish cosmetic goals. However, if your drooping eyelids are affecting your vision, blepharoplasty and ptosis repair might even be covered by your insurance.

When should I see a Doctor about my Drooping Eyelids?

Have you noticed a change in the appearance of one of your eyelids when looking in a mirror? Or, when you look at something, does one eye seem to see clearer and fuller than the other? If so, it’s possible that this eye may be in the early stages of ptosis—a.k.a. a drooping eyelid. Don’t panic. The eye care professionals at SightMD will answer your questions as well as provide a comprehensive exam to diagnose the condition of your vision. Give us a call at 855.295.4144, or get in touch online.