Ptosis

As we get older, many of us come face to face in the mirror with drooping eyelids.  The sagging may worsen over time, changing your appearance in an undesirable way, and it may impact your peripheral vision.

Age, as well as certain diseases, can impact the muscles and skin of the upper and lower eyelid in several ways. The drooping may come from a condition called ptosis, in which the muscles of the upper eyelids lose their strength and start to sag. Ptosis can be caused by diabetes or neuromuscular problems, but can also occur with aging.  The edge of the eyelid, where the lashes grow, crosses over the pupil to the point where it is blocking it, affecting your field of vision.

Another common eyelid problem is called dermatochalasis, in which excess skin of the upper eyelid sags to the point where the skin appears to bag, giving one a tired appearance. This too can impact your vision. With dermatochalasis, the excess skin of the lid, rather than the lid itself, droops because it loses elasticity, creating skin folds that may hang over the lashes and cover the pupil.

If these conditions affect your vision, you may try to unconsciously compensate by raising your eyebrows, which can lead to tension headaches. Both conditions, if severe enough, can impact driving, reading and one’s ability to function properly.

With Ptosis

After Surgery