How to fix droopy eyelids instantly

People may describe eyelids that sag excessively as droopy. Droopy eyelids can change a person’s appearance or cause problems such as obscured vision.

The medical term for something that droops on the body is ptosis. Blepharoptosis is the specific term for eyelid drooping.

Although there is no scientific evidence that exercises can improve droopy eyelids, some evidence suggests that working the facial muscles may improve the appearance of target areas.

This article outlines some exercises that people with droopy eyelids can try.

No research on exercises for droopy eyelids exists.

However, the results of a 2018 study suggest that performing facial exercises at least three times per week for a minimum of 20 weeks can improve the appearance of certain parts of the face. The study only included middle-aged females, so more research is necessary to add weight to these findings.

It is possible that exercises targeting the muscles around the eye may lead to a modest improvement in eyelid drooping if a person performs them regularly.

To determine whether exercises improve ptosis, it is useful to understand the many factors that can cause drooping. The main causes of droopy eyelids are:

• weakness in the upper eyelid levator muscles
• dysfunction of the nerves that control the muscle
• loose or excess skin on the eyelids

Ptosis can occur in one or both eyes at any age.

When a doctor diagnoses ptosis in someone younger than 1 year old, it is called congenital ptosis. According to a 40-year study, congenital ptosis is not common and only occurs in about 1 in 840 babies. Potential causes of congenital ptosis include:

• weakness of the upper eyelid muscles
• genetic or chromosomal abnormalities
• neurologic dysfunction

People who develop ptosis later in life have what is called acquired ptosis. As a person ages, the eyelid muscles responsible for raising and lowering the eyelid can weaken and cause sagging. The skin and tendons of the upper eyelid also become looser. Other factors that may trigger acquired ptosis include:

• degenerative disorders
• hereditary disorders
• tumors around or behind the eye
• infections
• injury
• diabetes
• stroke
• myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder that results in muscle weakness and fatigue
• Horner’s syndrome
• swelling in the eyelid
• Botox injections that accidentally paralyze the muscles of the upper eyelid or eyebrow
• Bell’s palsy
• giant papillary conjunctivitis
• migraine

There are no specific exercises that researchers have proven to improve eyelid drooping, but exercises that target the muscles around the eye may have some benefit. Exercises a person can try include:

Wide eyes

This exercise is extremely simple to perform.

• Open the eyes as wide as possible for about 5 seconds.
• Relax the eyes for 5 seconds.
• Continue for 30 seconds.

Brow lifter

This exercise targets the frontalis muscle of the forehead, which connects to the levator muscles of the eyelid.

• Place the hands on the forehead and push against it with light pressure.
• Using the forehead muscles, try to raise the forehead up for 5 seconds.
• Repeat 5–10 times.

Rapid lids

A person can perform this exercise by following the steps below.

• Use two fingers to press gently against each temple.
• Open and close the eyes rapidly.
• Continue for about 20 seconds.

Diagonal stretch

This exercise involves a few simple steps.

• Lightly place one finger at the end of each eyebrow facing forward.
• Using the facial muscles, look down as far as possible.
• Allow the eyeballs to gaze from one side to the other like a pendulum.
• Continue for about 20 seconds.

Lion’s breath

This exercise is a type of pranayama breathing that people use in yoga to increase energy and eliminate toxins. It may also help stretch out the muscles around the eye and make them more supple.

• Open the eyes as wide as possible while gazing upward.
• At the same time, stick the tongue out and down as far as it will go.
• Hold for 5–10 seconds while exhaling with a “haaa” breath.

Some people may find these exercises beneficial, while others may notice no difference. Repeating the exercises several times each day is likely to produce the most benefit in those who do see a change.

Droopy eyelids do not always require treatment, but some people may worry that they create a tired appearance and wish to correct them.

In some cases, droopy eyelids can obscure the vision, particularly the peripheral vision. Additionally, ptosis in infants can lead to lazy eye (amblyopia), and an ophthalmologist will usually recommend surgery.

Surgery

An oculoplastic or plastic surgeon performs ptosis surgery. A person can usually have surgery and go home the same day.

A local anesthetic will numb the eye and the surrounding area. The surgeon may only need to make a small adjustment to the levator muscle. For more severe cases, they may need to strengthen the levator muscle and reattach it to the eyelid.

Although surgery is safe, it does not always correct the problem, and people may need additional surgery. A 2018 review found that among 1,519 people, 8.7% needed further surgery to correct ptosis.

Medication

Doctors may prescribe an eye drop medication called oxymetazoline to adults with acquired or congenital ptosis. This medication encourages the eyelids to open wider. For the best results, a person should apply these drops every day. Oxymetazoline is not effective for ptosis resulting from injury or nerve problems.

Learn more about treatments for droopy eyelids here.

A person should talk with their doctor about their drooping eyelids if:

• their vision is restricted
• the appearance of droopy eyelids is causing distress
• their eyelids begin to droop relatively suddenly

Infants with droopy eyelids should receive medical attention if:

• they tilt their head back to see better
• they run into things hanging overhead and seem to have poor peripheral vision
• they say they have trouble seeing

A doctor will investigate the cause of droopy eyelids. They will ask a person whether they have any family members with ptosis and whether anything in their medical history might predispose them to the condition. The doctor will also ask about recent Botox injections, trauma, and ocular surgery.

Once a doctor has identified the cause of ptosis, they can recommend the best treatment option.

A range of factors can cause droopy eyelids. The eyelids may also droop because of aging.

Although there is no evidence that exercises for droopy eyelids actually work, some people believe that exercising the muscles of the face can strengthen and tighten them.

If droopy eyelids are obscuring vision or having a negative effect on a person, they should consult their doctor.

The upper eyelids sometimes droop downward in a condition known as ptosis. Ptosis may occur in one or both eyelids.

The term ptosis means drooping. This article will look at some causes of droopy eyelids and how to fix them, offering both surgical and nonsurgical options.

Eyelids can droop in different ways. Sometimes, the droop is only slight and does not cause any problems. In other cases, however, the eyelid may droop enough to cover the pupil and restrict a person’s sight.

If a person has a slight droop to their eyelids, the issue is often cosmetic. This may mean that the person is unhappy about the appearance of their eyelid but that the ptosis does not affect the way their eye functions.

When the eyelid droops farther, the problem may become functional, possibly restricting the person’s ability to see.

A person may develop ptosis for several reasons. It can sometimes begin during childhood, but it often develops with age.

The eyelids may droop if the muscle in the eyelid separates or stretches away. It may also develop due to an issue with the eyelid nerves.

The main symptom of having droopy eyelids is the upper eyelid drooping lower than usual. Another symptom is the creases on the upper eyelids not appearing symmetrical between the right and left eye.

In some cases, a droopy eyelid may resolve spontaneously. If ptosis is present but not causing any functional problems, a person may not need any treatment at all.

Treatment options depend on what is causing the droopy eyelid, how it is affecting the person, and the person’s age.

When a child has a droopy eyelid, for example, doctors often recommend surgery. This is because the droopy eyelid is more likely to affect the child’s vision.

Before suggesting how to manage ptosis, a doctor may assess the person using the following:

• imaging tests
• blood tests
• a complete eye exam

These assessments will help them determine the best treatment.

Managing ptosis may involve surgery, but there are also some nonsurgical treatment options available. These include:

• prescription eye drops
• specialized glasses to strengthen the eyes
• medication

Daily doses of the medication oxymetazoline can affect the levator muscle.

A doctor may suggest trying these options before they recommend surgery.

There are several types of surgery a person may undergo for ptosis, depending on the cause.

Frontalis sling procedure

If the problem is with the function of the levator muscle, a common surgical option is a frontalis sling procedure. This operation involves the frontalis muscle, using the forehead muscle to control the upper eyelid.

The frontalis sling procedure is a popular option for myogenic ptosis, which the section below will look at in more detail.

Levator resection

Another procedure for poor levator function is levator resection. This involves shortening the levator muscle.

If the ptosis is mechanical, such as from added weight on the eyelid, the surgeon may also remove the extra mass and any additional skin on the eyelid.

Other surgical options

Levator aponeurosis advancement and Fasanella-Servat Mullerectomy are two other surgical options. Doctors may recommend these options for people with droopy eyelids that are not related to levator muscle function.

What to expect

Most surgeries for ptosis are outpatient procedures, meaning that the person can go home on the same day of the operation.

Though unlikely, there are some risks associated with ptosis surgery. These include:

• bleeding
• infection
• undercorrection
• overcorrection
• reduced or blurred vision

A doctor will only recommend a surgical procedure if the ptosis is affecting a person physically, such as by reducing their vision.

Some factors that can cause droopy eyelids include:

• aging
• eye injuries, including trauma
• surgery to the eyes
• tumors

The way an eyelid droops often depends on the type of ptosis the person has. The sections below will describe a few different types of ptosis.

Aponeurotic ptosis

Aponeurotic ptosis is the most common form of droopy eyelid. It usually develops with age, often starting when a person is in their 50s or 60s.

It is less common for a person to develop aponeurotic ptosis during their younger years, but this is possible.

The condition may start to develop after a trauma to the eye, or it may result from surgery or from wearing contact lenses for a long period of time.

Neurogenic ptosis

Neurogenic ptosis occurs when there are problems with the nerve pathways in the eyelid muscles. This type of ptosis often results directly from conditions such as Horner syndrome or third cranial nerve palsy.

Indirectly, neurogenic ptosis can develop from tumors, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or carotid-cavernous aneurysms.

Myogenic ptosis

Myogenic ptosis develops when the levator muscle, which is responsible for moving the eyelid, stops working properly. The muscle becomes unable to lift the eyelid into position.

This type of ptosis usually affects other elements of a person’s facial expression in addition to their eyelids.

Mechanical ptosis

Some people develop ptosis because the eyelid becomes too heavy to control.

This added weight may be from fat or from skin. It may also happen if there is a tumor on the eyelid.

Pseudoptosis

To some extent, the cause of ptosis often comes from a problem with the levator muscle. However, when a droopy eyelid develops because of other factors, it is called pseudoptosis.

Pseudoptosis may develop from the condition blepharospasm, which causes uncontrollable blinking or eye twitches. It may also develop from hemifacial spasm, which is a nervous system disorder that affects one side of the face.

When a doctor is determining the cause of droopy eyelids, they will consider:

• the person’s age
• any medical conditions they have
• the severity of the eyelid droop
• their levator muscle function

To assess the levator muscle function, a doctor will measure the distance the eyelid travels when the person goes from an upward gaze to a downward gaze.

Determining the cause of the droopy eyelid helps them decide how best to treat it.

Some people may develop ptosis as a normal part of aging. However, if a child’s eyelids become droopy or a person has concerns about their eyelids, it is best to see a doctor in case these issues start to affect their vision.

A person should see a doctor if:

• their eyes keep tearing up
• their vision becomes blurry
• they have a more tired appearance

In less common cases, droopy eyelids may signal an underlying medical condition, such as an issue with the nerves, muscles, or brain.

Droopy eyelids occur when the upper eyelid hangs downward more than usual. The medical term for this drooping is ptosis.

Droopy eyelids are sometimes normal, often developing with age. However, if the droop is severe, it can affect the function of the eye and may restrict vision.

The best treatment option for droopy eyelids depends on what is causing them. If a person’s droopy eyelids are causing a functional problem, a doctor may recommend one of several treatment options. These may be surgical or nonsurgical.

If a person is concerned about droopy eyelids, they may wish to consider speaking to a doctor.