In adults, it usually indicates a muscular dysfunction which may involve only one eyelid or both eyelids; one eye or both eyes.

In this condition, the eyelid position is lower than normal and gives the appearance of a ‘tired look’ and smaller looking eyes. This would limit itself to a physical problem, but in some cases, the drooping may also affect vision if the eyelid covers the pupil.

Symptoms of droopy lid or Ptosis 

• Drooping eyelid
• Tilting of their head
• Raising eyebrows to lift the eyelids and see clearly, resulting in headaches and neck pain.
• Dryness of eyes
• Watering eyes
• Eye fatigue especially when readingThe condition varies from person to person but it needs immediate attention if.

• Ptosis develops suddenly over a few days or hours
• Is accompanied with double vision, weakness in the facial muscles or arms and legs, difficulty speaking or swallowing, or severe headaches
• There are also symptoms of eye infection, including pain and redness, fever, bulging eyes, or movement difficulty

Causes of droopy lid or Ptosis

• Congenital or since birth
• Acquired due to some injury to the eye muscle
• Age-related weakening of eye muscle
• Any eye surgeries resulting in droopy lid
• Neurological causes from the brain as in conditions such as Myesthenia Gravis etc

Diagnosis of droopy lid or Ptosis:

The diagnosis is more towards the cause of the drooping, by going over all the symptoms, medical history, family history etc and including a physical examination of the eye. Further diagnostic tests, such as CT or MRI scans may be necessary especially in neurological causes.

Where muscle weakness is also found, the doctor may recommend undergoing a blood test to determine whether you have myasthenia gravis, which is a rare condition affecting how the muscles respond to nerve messages and can, therefore, affect the eyelid muscles, amongst others.

Droopy Eyelid Treatment 

The treatment, whether surgical or non-surgical, depends on the cause and other factors. An Oculoplastic surgeon is recommended in order to correct the issue by surgically raising one or both eyelids.  The incisions are usually hidden in the natural skin crease of the upper eyelid or are performed through the underside of the eyelid.

The surgery is normally carried out under local anaesthetic (general anaesthetic for children) and takes around 45-90 minutes, and is a day care procedure.

Other non-surgical treatments are also available and certainly have their role in the treatment of ptosis. These include botulinum toxin injections.

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