Drooping eyelid, also called ptosis or eyelid ptosis, is a medical condition where the upper eyelid droops over the patient’s eye. In eyelid ptosis, it is as if the patient’s eyes are always half-closed because the upper eyelid is loose over the eyes, partially covering the cornea.

This drop can affect only one eye (unilateral ptosis) or both (bilateral ptosis) and can vary in intensity of eyelid descent from patient to patient, ranging from mild to severe. Some people, for example, even have the pupil covered by the drooping eyelid. This brings discomfort to the vision, eye crease (รอยพับชั้นตา which is the term in Thai) and aesthetics and usually makes the patient seek medical help.

What Are The Causes Of Droopy Eyelids?

There are many causes of droopy eyelids. Some are already born with this condition, called congenital ptosis. Others, in turn, develop ptosis due to aging, especially patients over 40 years of age. Patients who have suffered trauma or injury to the eyes may also have a drooping eyelid due to this injury, and those who have had surgical procedures on their eyes.

People who have conditions that affect the body’s muscle function, such as myasthenia gravis, may also experience a drooping eyelid. In these cases, what usually happens is that the patient wakes up with normal eyes, and his eyelid droops throughout the day. Diseases like diabetes, eye tumors, and other neurological diseases also cause droopy eyelids.

What Are The Symptoms Of The Droopy Eyelid?

Symptoms of a droopy eyelid include:

• eyelid drooping more than usual, which may affect both eyes or only one of them
• the patient feels a big aesthetic difference when looking at old photos compared to their current look
• the patient begins to make small adjustments to be able to see better, such as leaning the neck back and raising the eyebrows or frowning in an attempt to improve the closing of the eyes
• the feeling of heaviness above the eyes

What Is The Treatment For Droopy Eyelids?

Treatment for droopy eyelid depends on its causes. If the patient has ptosis as a congenital defect or even due to aging, it is possible to treat the condition through surgical procedures, such as blepharoplasty. Still, there are other treatments from dermatologists’ clinics, such as laser or ultrasound, to improve the patient’s muscle tension and lift their eyelids. If the drooping eyelid is caused by a disease such as diabetes or myasthenia gravis, you need to treat the condition to return the eyelid to its normal state.