Drooping eyelids are not only an unattractive aesthetic phenomenon; they can also develop into a medical issue should the problem develop to a certain level of severity. Below we look at a core question we receive: why are my eyelids drooping?
Why Are My Eyelids Drooping?
There are many reasons that eyelids can begin drooping. Eyelid surgery is a system of surgeries that are designed to counteract this irritating problem.
If you’re suffering from drooping eyelids and would like to learn more about how this particular condition develops while you look for an oculoplastic surgeon in Austin, then take a look over this list of the ways that eyelids can begin drooping.
1. The Natural Process of Aging
The eyelids are, unfortunately one of the first areas of the body that begin to be affected by the aging process. The skin surrounding them is especially susceptible to the effects of gravity and time.
This is especially true of the upper eyelids, which you may find need extra attention even after treatment.
2. Injury To the Eyes
If your eyes or the area around them suffer some type of injury, there’s a chance that they may develop some drooping in the aftermath of the accident.
3. You Were Born with Drooping Eyelids
Some individuals are born with drooping eyelids. Ptosis, a type of drooping eyelid, is actually quite common among children. Sometimes, the condition can be chalked up to amblyopia, or what is known colloquially as “lazy eye.”
4. Horner Syndrome
Horner Syndrome causes the eyelids to droop through damage to the nerves. Sometimes this condition can be indicative of more serious conditions, such as cancerous tumors.
For this reason, it’s imperative you seek medical attention if you believe you might have Horner Syndrome.
5. Infection
Infections in the eyelid area can also cause the eyes to droop, should they be serious enough. Some infectious diseases, such as pink eye, can also be lumped in under this category.
6. Stroke
A Stroke is a very dangerous phenomenon when one of the blood vessels that supplies oxygen to the brain bursts. Because of the complexity of the nervous system, the effects of a stroke can be overall hard to predict.
If the stroke is significant enough that it damages the nervous system, you could see some drooping eyelids as a result.
7. Muscle Issues
Drooping eyelids are also oftentimes related to conditions of the muscular system. There are many such conditions, one example being muscular dystrophy.
8. Diabetes
Diabetes is another serious condition that can be indicated by drooping eyelids. This is because low blood sugar has the ability to damage blood vessels and nerves if left unaddressed over time. Surgery may be suggested if this persists for over 6 months.
9. Intense Headaches
Serious headaches such as the ones caused by migraines also have the potential to trigger drooping eyelids.
Sometimes these headaches can initiate pressure or damage on the nerves, initiating the conditions for drooping eyelids to occur.
10. Botox Injections
Botox injections contain a minute amount of toxin known as botulinum toxin. Some patients may find that they have a minute reaction to these toxic materials. In most of these cases, surgery is not recommended, but in certain cases may be warranted.
11. Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis is an auto-immune condition where your immune system attacks its own nerves, weakening the signal between the nerves and muscles. This has the potential to affect many of the nerves of the muscles, face and jaw.
12. Eye Surgery
Eye surgery itself also has the potential to impact your eyelids and cause them to droop. In particular, surgeries aimed at correcting cataracts, glaucoma, or LASIK surgeries can accidentally induce ptosis.
In general, this type of ptosis tends to get better on its own without invasive surgery.
13. Mitochondrial Myopathies
Certain genetic diseases can inhibit the ability of your mitochondria to work. The mitochondria are what power most of the cells in your body. This can carry with it a number of effects, some of which can lead to ptosis and eyelid drooping.
14. Brain Aneurysm
A brain aneurysm is when a blood vessel in your brain erupts, creating a blood clot in your brain. This can lead to ptosis and drooping eyelids.
Austin’s Destination For Eyelid Surgery
Texas Neuro prides itself on offering Austin and the rest of Texas the best in ptosis repair and eyelid surgery. If you’re suffering from some kind of ptosis and would like to have it rectified, or are simply interested in learning where this phenomenon might be coming from, then schedule a consultation and learn why we’re considered the best ptosis repair surgeon in Austin.