Do your eyelids often feel heavy and tired? Have you noticed your upper eyelids becoming droopier over time, sagging downward more than they used to?
If so, you may have a condition called ptosis, which is the medical term for drooping or falling of the upper eyelids. Ptosis is quite common as people age, but in some cases, it can actually interfere with vision beyond just being a cosmetic nuisance.
Keep reading to learn how you can know if your droopy eyelids interfere with your vision!
Why Do Eyelids Sag?
There are many reasons why eyelids may droop or sag. As you age, eyelid skin loses elasticity and droops over time, often making the upper lids appear heavier and lower.
The levator muscle that raises the eyelid can also stretch out, causing it to function less efficiently in lifting the lids up fully. Fat deposits around the eyes may bulge, contributing extra weight.
If eyelids start drooping much lower than before or sag suddenly without explanation, it may be a sign of health problems like diabetes, stroke, or neurological disease. Lastly, excess skin or fat in the lids may simply weigh them down.
Depending on the cause of the drooping, your eye doctor will determine the best method of treatment. In some cases, drooping may be minimal and not require treatment right away, especially if the effect is only cosmetically bothersome.
What Is Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is a short, outpatient surgery designed to tighten the skin around your eyes. This helps you look younger and less tired.
It could also help you see better if your eyelids are interfering with your vision. However, depending on the cause of your drooping, blepharoplasty might not be enough to raise your eyelids adequately.
In order to remove fat and skin tissue during blepharoplasty, your oculoplastic surgeon creates an opening in the eyelid. For the upper eyelid, this incision is made along the natural fold.
The incision is carefully placed to be able to hide in your natural eyelid crease.
What is Ptosis Repair?
Ptosis repair refers to surgery that lifts and shapes sagging upper eyelids that are drooping low enough to get in the way of vision. The most common method shortens the muscle that raises the eyelid so that it pulls the lid up into a more open, comfortable position.
In many cases, ptosis repair is combined with blepharoplasty for the most optimal outcome. If your eyelids are drooping due to muscle laxity, a ptosis repair will be necessary.
However, you might also need the skin and fat to be removed; in this case, your eye doctor will likely recommend a combination of procedures.
How Can I Recognize If My Lid Sagging Is Not Just A Cosmetic Issue?
As your eyelids get lower drooping with age or other factors, pay attention to signs that beyond just appearance, your saggy lids are actually starting to obstruct sightlines and make it difficult to see. Indications your droopy lids have crossed into impacting vision can include:
- Constant creasing of your forehead struggling to open your eyes fully
- Headaches
- Changes to peripheral vision from your hooding eyelids
- Having to lift your lids with fingers to see properly
- Needing to hold your chin up to see above eye level
Routine eye checks allow your eye doctor to monitor worsening droop. If your eyelid drooping is new, make sure to see your eye doctor right away.
Your eye doctor can see if a procedure could improve sight issues caused by droopy eyelid obstructions.
Are you experiencing droopy lids? Schedule an appointment at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY, today!
