Health Encyclopedia

Eyelid drooping

Definition

Eyelid drooping is excessive drooping of the upper eyelid(s).

Considerations

Drooping eyelids can stay constant, worsen over time (progressive), or come and go (intermittent). 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 present at birth (congenital) or develop later in life. A drooping eyelid is not a reason to panic, but you should report it to your doctor.

Common Causes

Both eyelids drooping:

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

One eyelid drooping:

Growth in the eyelid, such as a stye
Medical problem
Nerve injury
Normal aging process
Normal variation

Home Care

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.

Call your health care provider if

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

What to expect at your health care provider's office

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:

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:11/13/2007
Reviewed By:Manju Subramanian, M.D., Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery, Boston University Eye Associates, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.