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Eye diseases

Eyelid ptosis

This has an impact on appearance, vision and eye health.
Half of those over the age of 60 have drooping eyelids.
Half of those over the age of 60 have drooping eyelids.

What is eyelid ptosis?

Eyelid ptosis is the drooping of the upper eyelid in such a manner that the eye is shut closed more than usual and cannot be opened normally.

This not only generates appearance problems, but can also lead to an alteration in the lubrication of the eye’s surface –as the tears are not distributed appropriately by blinking–, and a reduction in the visual field. In the case of children (congenital ptosis (link)), it might also prevent eyesight from developing correctly and lead to “lazy eye” (link).

The loss of visual field occurs when eyelid ptosis is severe enough to cover the pupil through the visual stimuli enter the eye.

Other consequences you might notice if you have this badly positioned eyelid are:

  • Tired eyes, with a feeling of fatigue and heaviness on the eyelids because you are constantly trying to open your eye more fully.
  • Headaches due to the muscle tension maintained involuntarily to “pull” the eyelid up from the forehead.
  • Torticollis caused by adopting unsuitable postures to compensate for the visual obstacle (tilting your head, lifting your chin, etc.)

Insofar as the aesthetic impact, don’t forget the repercussions that drooping eyelids might have in terms of personal acceptance and social relations.

There are several types of ptosis that depend on the causes of the disorder. These are some of the main ones:

  • Ageing: over time, the muscle that raises the eyelid becomes “loose” and loses the tension to support the eyelid in its correct position. This is the most common cause and, in fact, half of those over the age of 60 have some degree of eyelid ptosis.
  • Birth defects to the elevator muscle, the incorrect development of which prevents it from doing its job properly.
  • Lack of nerve stimulation of the elevator muscle, either due to oculomuscular paralysis or certain syndromes, such as Horner’s or Marcus-Gunn.
  • “Mechanical” problems due to the presence of tumours or cysts that prevent the eyelid from rising.
  • Eye trauma damaging the eyelid structures.

The solution to eyelid ptosis is surgery, with different minimally-invasive techniques that we select individually to ensure the best results depending on the type and degree of ptosis.

The benefits of surgery are aesthetical and functional, as we improve the symmetry and natural look of the face with the utmost care for eyesight and eye structures. The Miranza clinics have a team of expert oculoplastic surgeons for this purpose.