Eyelid drooping

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Ptosis, drooping of the eyelid

Below is a list of recommendations based on the various causes of eye drooping:

• Caused by aging -- no treatment is necessary, unless it affects your vision.
• Caused by an allergic reaction -- consult your doctor about antihistamine or steroid treatment.
• Caused by nerve injury -- consult your doctor about surgical correction.

For all other causes -- follow your health care provider's recommendations.

Contact your health care provider if:

• Eyelid drooping is affecting your appearance or vision
• One eyelid suddenly droops or closes
• It is associated with other symptoms, such as double vision

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Your health care provider will get a medical history and perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions 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 do you have?

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

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Slit-lamp examination
• Tensilon test

Interventions:

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

You may get special spectacle frames that suspend the eyelid by traction with a wire. Usually these frames 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.

Review Date: 08/03/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).