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Eyelid drooping

• Overview
• Treatment

Definition:

This is excessive drooping of the upper eyelid(s). See also drooping eyelid disease (ptosis).

Considerations:

Drooping eyelids can be constant, progressive (getting worse with time), or intermittent (comes and goes). It can be one-sided, or on both sides. When drooping is one-sided (unilateral), it is easy to detect by comparing the two eyelids. Drooping is more difficult to detect when it occurs on both sides, or if there is only a slight problem.

A furrowed forehead or a chin-up head position may indicate that someone is trying to see under their drooping lids. Eyelid drooping can make someone appear sleepy or tired.

Drooping lids are either congenital (present at birth) or acquired later in life. A drooping eyelid is not a reason to panic, but should be reported to the doctor.

Common Causes:

Both eyelids

• Normal variation of the eyelids
• Normal aging process
• Migraine headaches
• Medical problem such as myasthenia gravis

One eyelid drooping

• Normal variation
• Normal aging process
• Nerve injury
• A growth in the eyelid such as a stye
• Medical problem

• Review Date: 11/14/2005
• Reviewed By: Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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