All about drooping eyelids

Do you suffer from tired eyes? Is your vision deteriorating? Or do you regularly receive comments about your appearance, such as, ‘Did you sleep poorly last night?’ This can be very unpleasant and may be the result of drooping eyelids. It develops over the years; after all, we all get older, but it can occur much earlier in some people. Drooping eyelids can affect your appearance and can also impair your vision. Is there anything that can be done about it? Certainly. In this blog, you can read more about how drooping eyelids develop, the consequences and what treatment is available at Duinbergen Clinic to lift the eyelids.

What are drooping eyelids?

We all age, our skulls become thinner, our eye sockets enlarge, our skin becomes thinner, connective tissues become weaker, causing the underlying structures to shift, and ultimately we lose the battle against gravity. How this manifests itself is not the same for everyone, although there are familial trends. Often, the upper eyelids begin to droop, with excess skin hanging over the edge of the eyelid. There are two types of drooping eyelids: ptosis and dermatochalasis. Both forms can lead to the same symptoms, but the different causes are explained below.

Causes of ptosis

The muscle that lifts the upper eyelid is called the levator muscle. When this muscle no longer functions properly, it can result in a drooping eyelid (ptosis). Ptosis can also be caused by ageing, a muscle disease, Horner’s syndrome or scarring. Typical complaints include difficulty seeing in the dark (e.g. no longer wanting to drive at night), feeling tired in the evening, headaches and wrinkles on the forehead with raised eyebrows. A drooping eyelid caused by ptosis can be corrected by shortening or reattaching the levator muscle.

Causes of dermatochalasis

Dermatochalasis is caused by sagging skin, for example due to ageing or reduced skin elasticity. The skin around the eyes is very thin and loses elasticity quickly. Gravity then causes the eyelids to droop slightly. This often only happens when you are 40 years of age or older, but if drooping eyelids occur earlier in your life, it can be bothersome and make you look tired.

Consequences of drooping eyelids

When the levator muscle no longer functions properly or when the skin of your eyelid slackens, the eyelid begins to droop over the lash line. A drooping eyelid can result in a tired appearance. In addition, drooping eyelids can also cause other unpleasant symptoms. Because the eye is less visible, your vision may deteriorate. You may also suffer from tired eyes or even headaches. If you like to wear eye make-up, applying it will become more difficult over time, especially when your eyes are swollen in the morning due to fluid retention.

Eyelid lifts are the solution for drooping eyelids.

Fortunately, a minor procedure is sufficient to get rid of your complaints. With an upper eyelid correction, we can correct drooping eyelids by removing the excess skin. At Duinbergen Clinic, we take your wishes into account and determine the best procedure for you. Scars are minimised as much as possible so that you will not see any after the procedure. An upper eyelid correction can be performed for cosmetic or medical reasons (e.g. poor vision or fatigue). We can help you with both. Are you curious about how such a treatment works? Then a consultation with a plastic surgeon is the first step. They can determine the cause of your condition and the best treatment for you. You will then know exactly where you stand. You can then decide what to do.