Ptosis (pronounced toe-sis) is the medical term for dropping of the upper eyelid, a condition that may affect one or both eyes. When the edge of the upper eyelid falls, it may block the upper field of your vision. Ptosis that is present at birth is called congenital ptosis.

Symptoms include a decreased ability to keep your eyes open, eyestrain and eyebrow fatigue from the increased effort needed to raise your eyelids and tension headaches.

The most common reason for ptosis is acquired ptosis, which develops as we age when the levator muscle in the eyelid stretches. As you get older the tendon that attaches the muscle to the eyelid separates causing the eyelid to fall covering part of the eye. Acquired ptosis may also be the first sign of myasthenia gravis, a disorder in which the body’s muscles become weak and tire easily. Another cause is congenital ptosis, which happens when a child is born with droopy eyelids.

Ptosis is treated surgically, with the specific operation based on the severity of the ptosis and the strength of the levator muscle. Upper eyelid surgery is designed to reattach the stretched muscle to its normal location. The main goals of upper eyelid surgery is elevation of the upper eyelids to restore normal field of vision and an attempt to achieve symmetry with the opposite upper eyelid. Raising the eyelid will also give a more awake, alert and youthful appearance.

Blepharoplasty is the term for the eyelid surgery used to correct drooping eyelids. Blepharoplasty is often performed in combination with a brow lift to rejuvenate the entire area around they eyes.