Eyelid drooping

Considerations:
Drooping eyelids can be constant, progressive, or intermittent. It can be one-sided or on both sides. When drooping is one-sided (unilateral), it is easy to detect by comparing the relative position of the eyelids. Drooping is more difficult to detect when it occurs on both sides or if there is only a slight problem. A furrowed forehead or a tipped-back head may indicate that someone is trying to see under their drooping lids.

Drooping lids are either congenital (present at birth) or acquired later in life.

A drooping eyelid is not a reason to panic but should be reported to the doctor.

Common Causes:

Note: There may be other causes of drooping eyelids. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location (one or both eyes), quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for drooping eyelids, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Home Care:
For eye drooping caused by nerve injury, consult your doctor about surgical correction.

For eye drooping caused by an allergic reaction , consult your doctor about antihistamine or steroid treatment.

For eye drooping caused by aging, no treatment is necessary.

For eye drooping from all other causes, follow your health care provider's recommendations.

Call Your Healthcare Provider If:

  • eye drooping is adversely affecting lifestyle.
  • it is associated with other symptoms.



What to Expect:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting drooping eyelids in detail may include:

  • Are both eyelids affected or just one?
  • How long has this been present?
  • Is it getting worse or staying the same?
  • Is it present all of the time or only sometimes?
  • What other symptoms are also present?

The physical examination may include a detailed assessment of nerve functioning.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Interventions:
Surgery may be necessary to correct levator muscle dysfunction (problems with the muscles that open the eyelid).

Special spectacle frames that suspend the eyelid by traction with a wire may be provided. Usually these frames are used to help patients with temporary, partial paralysis or those who are not good candidates for surgery.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to eyelid drooping to your personal medical record.


This is an illustration of a cross-section and frontal view of the eye.



Drooping of the eyelid is called ptosis. Ptosis may result from damage to the nerve that controls the muscles of the eyelid, problems with the muscle strength (as in myasthenia gravis), or from swelling of the lid.