What is droopy eyelid?

A droopy eyelid, medically known as ptosis, is a condition in which the eyelid is so low that it covers the top of the eye.

Ptosis, which has many causes and can be seen at any age, may occur in one eye or both eyes. There may be babies born with a low eyelid at birth, or there may be a low eyelid that develops with senility, that is, aging. It may be due to various nerve or muscle diseases, medications, tumours, accidents, or it may be seen as a result of the weakening of the person's muscle by friction for years, even in the use of contact lenses for many years. Eyelid ptosis may occur in different degrees in everyone. In some patients, it may be very mild, and in some patients, it may appear in severe forms that completely cover the eye.

In severe forms, that is, in cases that cover the pupil enough to impair vision, surgery is strongly recommended, especially in infancy and childhood. Because if the pupil remains covered during the development period, lazy eye, which is difficult to treat, may develop due to incomplete visual development. Especially in infants, it is important to open the front of the pupil by operating in the early period.

In mild cases, that is, in cases where it does not cover the pupil, it is necessary to evaluate the aesthetic appearance and the psychological state of the person. A sense of deficiency, introversion, lack of self-confidence develops, especially in childhood, due to the smaller appearance of that eye by the environment. In other words, it is important to be treated in childhood, as not only visual development but also psychological development will be damaged.

How to treat droopy eyelids?

Surgery is usually recommended for the treatment of droopy eyelids. Different surgical techniques are used according to the condition of the muscle that moves the lid. While muscle strengthening surgery is preferred in patients with good muscle strength, patients with weak muscle strength are helped by the forehead muscle, which is the closest muscle.  General anaesthesia is used in children and local anaesthesia is used in adults. It is normal to have swelling and bruising in the first week after the surgery. One week after the operation, the stitches are removed and the person continues his/her normal life. Although the importance of treatment in childhood is very important, in cases that prevent vision in advanced ages, it should be treated with the methods that your physician will deem appropriate for you.

Prepared by the Editorial Board of Eye Foundation Hospitals.