Ptosis (pronounced “tow-sis”) is short for blepharoptosis and is a term used to describe the sagging or drooping of an eyelid. A common complaint from patients with this condition is that they feel like their eyes look tired and heavy. Many patients will report that their eyes look small, or that they can barely see their eyes in pictures.
What Causes a Droopy Eyelid?
There are several different causes for eyelid ptosis. The most common form of ptosis results from a stretching of the muscle that moves the eyelid up and down over time. Although this can commonly occur as a part of age-related changes that involve the eyes, some other common causes for eyelid ptosis can include such things as excessive rubbing, eye or eyelid trauma, contact lens usage, prior eye or eyelid surgery, eye or eyelid infections, or even upper eyelid bumps that can grow and weigh the lid down. The natural aging process contributes to a loss of bone and soft-tissue volume over time, and this loss of volume around the eyes can sometimes cause the upper eyelid to sag lower.
Another form of eyelid ptosis can be congenital (from birth), meaning that it is present from the time of birth or shortly thereafter. The most common form of congenital ptosis usually involves a poor development of the normal eyelid muscle. This muscle weakness will cause the upper eyelid position to sit much lower than on the other side. Typically, with this form of ptosis, the affected eyelid will appear not to have a normal eyelid crease that will make it look significantly different in appearance from the other side. There are also other forms of congenital (from birth) or childhood eyelid ptosis that may still maintain normal eyelid muscle function, but in these cases, the muscle is somewhat stretched, similar to the adult acquired form.