Ogochukwu Ugwu

· 16 Jan 2022

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Do you have a droopy eyelid? Discover why your eyelid is drooping

Do you have sagging eyelids?
Does your eyelids looks swollen?

Then you might be having this condition.

What is eyelid drooping?

Drooping of eyelids is also known as ptosis, is a condition that involves excessive sagging of the eyelids due to too much skin on the upper eyelid.

This condition ranges from simple cosmetics to a very severe case which may to affect one's sight.

Who does eyese drooping affect

Anyone can get droopy eyelids; people of different ages including children, adults, and aged.

More so, some babies are born with droopy eyelids. Although the real cause is unknown. The levator muscles in the eyes of such babies are underdeveloped.

However, it's more prevalent among the old folks. Because as you advance in age the levator muscles which hold up  the eyelid, get weakened and stretches, making the eyes to droop.

Symptoms of droopy eyelids

1. Sagging of both eyelids
2. Excessively watery eyes
3. Extremely dry eyes
4. Aching of the area of your eyes
5. The tendency to tilt your head backward to have a better view

Types of eyelids drooping
Congenital ptosis occurs very early in life
Acquired ptosis occurs later in life

Reasons why your eye is drooping

Your eyes could droop I you have any of these conditions

A. Neurological Condition
1. Peripheral damage
Development of traumatic cells in their eyes and  of course, defects of the peripheral nerve responsible for vision can cause drooping of the eyes. As a result of trauma in the artery of the neck or lungs.

Symptoms of peripheral damage
Lack of sweating
Constricted pupils

2. Interruption to the flow of blood in the brain
Decreased level of blood flow in some parts of the brain as a result of stroke can lead to the drooping of one or both eyelids.

3. Aneurysm
This is the structural damage of the nerves responsible for supplying blood to the eyelids and the eyes. This is when an enlarged portion of the blood vessel gets compressed. It leads to eyelids drooping, reduced tendency to move the eyes and enlarged pupils.

B. Muscular conditions

1. Neuromuscular Condition
This is a condition where the muscles that hold up the eyelids are weakened. This occurs usually when the communication between the nerves and the muscles is interrupted by  immune response.

2. Ageing
Ageing can cause prolonged degeneration of the muscles that hold up the eyelids, this muscle, more often than not gets weakened. This weakness is evidence in drooped eyelids.

3. Infection
Eye infection such as keratitis, conjunctivitis and Chlamydia and other infection to eye socket can cause great pains in the eyes and eyelids.

4. Tumor
Outgrowth of abnormal cells on the eyes tend to weigh down the eyes causing so much pain on the eyes and eventually drooping of the eyes.

If you have any of the symptoms of droopy eyes, I kindly recommend you to go and see a doctor.

Once you explain everything to him, your doctor will carry out physical check, track your medical history and conduct Slit Lamp exam and Tensilon test. After diagnosing what the real issue is, he will prescribe treatment for you.

#healthandwellness