Anatom3D
ENCZDE
Download

Drooping eyelid (ptosis)

Blepharoptosis · Pokleslé víčko (ptóza)

What it is

An upper eyelid that sags — usually a stretched lifting muscle with age, sometimes a nerve palsy, myasthenia or a Horner syndrome.

Symptoms & signs

  • One or both lids lower than normal
  • tilting the head back to see
  • tired brows from lifting
  • narrowed upper field of vision

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden droop with double vision, a big pupil or headache
  • call 112 / 911 now Droop with face, arm or speech weakness
  • see a doctor soon Droop with a small pupil or new neck pain
  • see a doctor soon Droop worse by evening with tiring muscles

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Examination to exclude nerve palsy, myasthenia and Horner syndrome (urgent if sudden)
  • oxymetazoline drops for mild acquired ptosis
  • surgery to tighten the levator
  • crutch glasses

Natural & lifestyle

  • Prompt check if it comes on suddenly
  • care with contact-lens removal
  • good lighting

Emerging & experimental

  • Longer-acting adrenergic eyelid drops
  • minimally invasive levator plication

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Eyelid exercises — anecdotal; they cannot shorten a stretched tendon anecdotal / traditional
  • Cold tea bags and massage — soothing; no effect on the lid anecdotal / traditional
  • Tape and crutch glasses — practical support while waiting early / small studies

ICD codes