Sagging eyelids, the medical term for which is "eyelid ptosis," can be a cosmetic problem, but can also interfere with vision. If you suffer from it, the first thing you should do is make an appointment with your doctor. Treatment depends on the diagnosis and the severity of the situation. By learning more about this condition and the treatments available, you will be able to more easily evaluate your options with your doctor.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Treating Eyelid Ptosis
Step 1. Get a formal diagnosis
Before attempting any treatment, you must have a medical diagnosis. Since drooping eyelids can be a sign of several serious illnesses, you should quickly bring your situation to the attention of an eye doctor. He should take a complete medical history and perform a physical exam to rule out serious neurological problems, infections, immune system disorders, or other diseases. He should also perform the following tests, to come to a final conclusion:
- Visual acuity test;
- Slit lamp inspection to check for any corneal scratches or abrasions;
- Tensilon (edrophone) test to rule out myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness.
Step 2. Get treatment for underlying diseases
If the ptosis is caused by a systemic condition, you need to deal with this problem before seeking remedies for droopy eyelids. By keeping the general disease under control, you can improve the condition of the eyelids as well.
- For example, if you have been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, your doctor may prescribe several medications, including physostigmine, neostigmine, prednisone, and immune system modulators.
- Other diseases that involve eyelid ptosis as symptoms are third cranial nerve palsy and Bernard-Horner syndrome. There is no cure for these conditions, although surgery can relieve the symptoms of third cranial nerve palsy.
Step 3. Ask your doctor for more information about ptosis surgery
There are currently no home remedies that have proven effective for this problem; surgery is still the only certain option. The surgical procedure to correct eyelid ptosis is called blepharoplasty; during surgery, the surgeon removes excess skin and fatty tissue and then pulls the skin over the eyelids. In particular:
- Before the operation begins, the doctor administers a general anesthetic to numb the upper and lower eyelid area; he then makes an incision along the eyelid crease. Thanks to an instrument that applies a light suction, it removes excess fat and sutures the skin with absorbable stitches.
- The whole process takes about 2 hours and often the patient can leave the hospital the same day.
- At the end of the surgery, the surgeon applies a bandage to the eyelids to protect them and make sure they heal properly. You must follow his instructions for cleaning and caring for wounds. It is necessary to wait about a week before the gauze can be removed.
- Your surgeon will prescribe eye drops and pain medications to better manage post-operative discomfort.
Step 4. Go to the emergency room if necessary
In some cases, eyelid ptosis is a symptom of a much more serious problem that requires prompt intervention. Go to the hospital right away if you experience these symptoms:
- Eye pain
- Headache
- Changes in vision
- Facial paralysis;
- Nausea or vomiting.
Part 2 of 2: Learn about Ptosis
Step 1. Learn about the function of the eyelids
These skin folds protect the eyes from the external environment, but they also perform other important tasks. When you suffer from ptosis you may find that the eyelids are unable to maintain their functionality as usual. Their task consists in:
- Protect your eyes from dangerous substances such as dust, debris, bright light and so on;
- Lubricate and moisturize the eyes by spreading tears on the ocular surface every time you blink;
- Eliminate irritants by producing more tears as needed.
Step 2. Learn the anatomy of the eyelids
These folds are equipped with muscles that allow the movement of opening and closing. They are also made up of adipose tissue that gets bigger and bigger as you get older. The elements of the eyelid anatomy that are affected by ptosis are:
- The orbicularis muscle of the eye; it surrounds the eyes and is used to take on different facial expressions. It also connects to several other muscles.
- The levator muscle of the upper eyelid; as the name suggests, it allows you to lift the upper eyelids.
- The adipose panniculus found in the folds of the upper eyelids.
Step 3. Recognize the symptoms of ptosis
This is the medical name for droopy eyelids. The severity of the disorder varies from person to person, but sufferers experience other symptoms in addition to excess skin around the eyes. Eg:
- Visibly drooping eyelid;
- Increased lacrimation;
- Difficulty in sight.
Step 4. Consider the possible causes of ptosis
Typically, it is due to the loss of elasticity of the facial muscles around the eyes, which in turn is a consequence of other factors and pathologies. Knowing the cause of the disorder helps the doctor choose the right therapy; that is why it is very important to get a formal diagnosis from a professional. The etiology of eyelid ptosis could be:
- Age;
- Hereditary or congenital malformations;
- Amblyopia (decreased visual acuity);
- Dehydration from drug, alcohol and / or tobacco abuse;
- Allergic reaction;
- Eyelid infections, such as styes, or eye infections, such as bacterial conjunctivitis
- Bell's palsy;
- Stroke;
- Lyme disease;
- Myasthenia gravis;
- Bernard-Horner syndrome.
Advice
- Try to apply a cream around your eyes every day to keep your eyelids moisturized. Remember, however, that creams and other cosmetic remedies have not been shown to be effective in treating ptosis.
- If in addition to ptosis you often suffer from a feeling of fatigue, ask your doctor for more information about myasthenia gravis. Fatigue is the main symptom of this disease.
