When your eyelids start to droop, it’s usually not a welcome sign. In many cases, it tends to make you look older and more tired. But drooping eyelids aren’t just a cosmetic issue.
When your eyelids are drooping, they can interfere with your vision. It can become more challenging to see, especially using your peripheral vision to see objects with the corners of your eyes. The specialists at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center explain more about how a relatively simple procedure called an eyelid lift can restore your ability to see clearly.
The cause of droopy eyelids
Often, drooping eyelids are just a normal effect of getting older. As you age, your skin loses much of the natural elasticity it had in your youth. This can cause the skin around your eyes to get baggy or droopy.
Your eyelids contain the levator muscle, which allows them to move up and down. However, as you age, you may find that this muscle “wears out” or lacks the strength it once did.
You can look at family history for a possible cause, too. If your parents or grandparents had excess skin around their eyes, you might develop the same thing.
How droopy eyelids can interfere with vision
Pathologic droopy eyelids are a medical condition called ptosis. This can sometimes be caused by factors other than age, such as a stroke, nerve damage, or neurological disorders.
You don’t usually have much control over whether or not you’ll develop excess skin around your eyes. But if you do have excess skin around your eyes, you may have the following symptoms:
- One or both of your eyelids sag
- Your eyes are more prone to dryness or being watery
- You may notice that you look tired, even when you’re well-rested
- Your eyes may ache
The greater the degree of drooping eyes, the more likely you are to experience problems with your vision, especially your peripheral vision.
How to repair drooping eyelids
A cosmetic procedure called an eyelid lift (also known as a blepharoplasty) can repair the drooping eyelids.
This procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis so that you can go home the same day as the procedure. You’ll be given either total anesthesia or a local anesthetic and conscious sedation, so you shouldn’t feel too uncomfortable during the procedure.
The specialist will remove the excess skin around your eyes. You will have some stitches, which will be removed 4-7 days after the procedure.
After the procedure
After you get a blepharoplasty, you’ll want to ensure you’ve arranged to have someone drive you home. Although you’ll be conscious, you’ll still be affected by the anesthesia and are not considered safe to drive.
You may prefer to sleep sitting up for the first few days following the procedure. This allows improved healing and less pain.
Your eyes may feel swollen and bruised. This is considered a normal side effect. However, you can always call the office if your bruising or swelling is abnormal.
You can also use ice packs to reduce the pain and swelling after the procedure. You can also take over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) or naproxen (Aleve®.)
If your eyelids are sagging and it’s starting to interfere with your vision, we can help. Contact Advanced Plastic Surgery Center specialists today or request an appointment online.
