What causes droopy eyelids? Learn about the signs, treatment methods & prevention
The phenomenon of droopy eyelids greatly affects vision and the aesthetics of the face, causing many people to feel sad and insecure. So what is the condition of droopy eyelids, what are its symptoms and how to remedy it? Let’s find out in the following article!
1. What are droopy eyelids?
Droopy eyelids (ptosis) is a condition where the upper eyelid droops lower than its normal position, covering the corneal edge (the boundary between the white and black part of the eye) by about 2mm. The phenomenon of drooping eyelids can limit vision, affect the aesthetics of the eyes and the overall face.

2. Classification of droopy eyelids
There are 2 groups of droopy eyelids:
- Congenital droopy eyelids: This condition occurs from birth or develops in the early years of life. Congenital droopy eyelids can cause strabismus, narrow palpebral fissure,… leading to impaired vision, reduced eyesight, or affecting eye health later on.
- Acquired droopy eyelids must: Droopy eyelids are mainly encountered in adults when the eyelid lifting muscle is weak or the nerve controlling the muscle is paralyzed. This condition often occurs due to aging, myasthenia gravis, or eyelid trauma.
In addition, droopy eyelids are also expressed through 4 levels as follows:
3. Causes of droopy eyelids
Below are the common causes of droopy eyelids:
3.1. Aging
Over time, the eyelid lifting muscles and the skin of the eyelids gradually lose elasticity and become weaker. This causes the upper eyelids to sag, obscuring part or all of the pupil. Droopy eyelids due to aging often occur in both eyes; however, the degree of eyelid droop may vary.

3.2. Trauma
Eye, head, and facial trauma from traffic accidents, workplace accidents, strong impacts,… can damage the eyelid lifting muscle or the third nerve controlling the eyelid lifting muscle, thereby causing droopy eyelids. Droopy eyelids due toinjuries often occur suddenly and only affect one eye. The degree of ptosis depends on the severity of the injury.
3.3. Pathology
Some systemic diseases can also cause ptosis, including:
- Diabetes: Causes damage to small blood vessels, including those supplying the levator muscle, weakening the levator muscle.
- Myasthenia gravis: Is an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness, including the levator muscle.
- Brain tumor: A tumor growing in the brain can compress the third cranial nerve causing ptosis.
- Stroke: A stroke damages the brain area that controls the activity of the levator muscle.
- Horner’s syndrome: Is a collection of symptoms caused by damage to the sympathetic nerve pathway leading to ptosis, miosis, and reduced sweating on one side of the face.
3.4. Genetics
The cause of drooping eyelids can also be due to genetic factors in the family. If parents or grandparents have had congenital ptosis, then children/grandchildren are also likely to have drooping eyelids.
3.5. Side effects of some medications
Using some types of medications likesedatives, antidepressants, muscle relaxants,… can cause muscle weakness, including the levator muscle. In the long term, this can lead to drooping eyelids.

3.6. Causes of drooping eyelids – Failed cosmetic surgery
Currently, there are many cosmetic methods to help make the eyes more beautiful and youthful, such as eyelid surgery, eyelid crease creation,… However, if not performed correctly, or if not cared for properly, it can quickly lead to drooping eyelids.
4. Symptoms of drooping eyelids
Common symptoms of drooping eyelids include:
- The upper eyelid covers part or all of the pupil.
- Impaired vision.
- Difficulty opening the eyes wide, eyes appear smaller than normal.
- Eyes look tired, aged.

5. How to fix drooping eyelids
Drooping eyelids not only affect vision but also make the face less aesthetically pleasing, so you can refer to the ways to eliminate drooping eyelids below to improve this condition:
5.1. Eye drops
The method of using eye drops is suitable for cases of drooping eyelids due to eye inflammation, conjunctivitis, dry eyes, eye strain,… However, to ensure safety and effectiveness, you should consult a doctor and choose a reputable eye drop that is suitable for your eye condition.
5.2. Eyelid surgery
For cases of drooping eyelids due to weak eyelid muscles, cosmetic intervention will help optimally correct drooping eyelids. Specifically as follows:
- Shortening the eyelid muscle: This technique is suitable for cases of mild to moderate drooping eyelids. The doctor will shorten the eyelid muscle, helping to increase the pulling strength of the muscle and lift the eyelids higher. This method to eliminate drooping eyelids provides long-lasting results and leaves minimal scarring.
- Directly suspending the eyelids to the forehead muscle: This is a method for treating drooping eyelids that doctors use the patient’s own forehead muscle flaps such as C-shaped flaps, split forehead flaps 3,… to suspend the eyelids and removeremove excess skin. From there, improve the condition of drooping eyelids and enhance vision.

- Using the force of the forehead muscle to indirectly lift the eyelids through a suspension thread: This technique uses autologous materials such as thigh strips, temporal muscle strips to pull part of the eyelid muscle up to the forehead muscle, creating symmetry for both eyelids.
- Surgery to address sagging skin: This is a way to fix drooping eyelids by removing excess skin, redundant skin to make the eyelids clearer, including eyelid cutting, lifting the lower brow arch, eyelid cutting combined with lifting. Doctors will base on the condition of the drooping eyelids to perform the appropriate method.
In general, the methods for treating drooping eyelids mentioned above are complex methods that require doctors to have excellent expertise and skilled hands to ensure accurate, effective, and safe implementation.
6. Dr. Eye – Address for drooping eyelid treatmentin-depth, safe and effective
Coming to Dr. Eye, women will be examined and directly consulted by a team of experienced cosmetic doctors with full practice certificates. Understanding that each customer is a unique individual, Dr. Eye is committed to providing a personalized treatment plan, focusing on minimal intervention and maximum safety.
Whether facing congenital ptosis, age-related drooping or drooping eyelids due to failed cosmetic procedures, Dr. Eye can effectively help with a medically standardized process, ensuring natural results that harmonize with the face. Especially before performing, the doctor will conduct a trial design so you can visualize the results beforehand and feel secure in experiencing the service.

Not only treating, Dr. Eye also accompanies women throughout the post-operative process. The doctors will provide detailed instructions on how to care for eyelids at home, while also offering free Plasma treatment during follow-up visits to help eyelids heal quickly, regain shape, and minimize complications.
Evidence of Dr. Eye’s commitments is the successful treatment images of customers.



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7. Complications of droopy eyelids
Eyeliddrooping heavily can obstruct vision and greatly affect the aesthetics of the face. In some cases, drooping eyelids may be a sign of certain diseases such as myasthenia gravis, brain tumors, stroke,… You need to see a doctor and get treatment soon to avoid negative impacts on health.drooping eyelids
When experiencing drooping eyelids, women often have some questions that need to be answered such as: The level of danger of drooping eyelids depends on the cause and the degree of drooping. If the drooping eyelids are not related to conditions such as myasthenia gravis, nerve paralysis,… then it is not too dangerous. To accurately determine the cause of drooping eyelids, you should visit a reputable medical facility for a thorough examination by a doctor. This is a common condition of drooping eyelids, which may be caused by insufficient sleep, prolonged stress, or due to medical conditions. If the eyelids return to normal after a short time or do not affect vision, you should adjust your lifestyle habits such as going to bed earlier and eating a balanced diet. For those with persistent drooping eyelids that recur daily and affect vision, it is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist for specific advice. The cost of drooping eyelid treatment depends on various factors such as the treatment method, the facility performing it, the degree of drooping,… Currently, the treatment price for drooping eyelids on the market ranges from 8,000,000 – 20,000,000 VND. At Dr. Eye, eyelid surgery services priced from 7,000,000 – 12,000,000 VND. In general, droopy eyelids is a condition where the upper eyelids sag, affecting vision and aesthetics. This is also a common issue among middle-aged women, making the face look aged and tired. To effectively improve this, women should choose modern cosmetic methods at reputable beauty establishments to regain a round and youthful eyelid crease!9.1. Is drooping eyelids dangerous?
9.2. Why do eyelids droop after waking up?
9.3. How much does drooping eyelid treatment cost?
References
- Ptosis (Droopy Eyelid). 08 09 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14418-ptosis-droopy-eyelid (accessed on 16 01 2025)
- Kierstan Boyd. What Is Ptosis? 11 11 2024. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-ptosis (accessed on 16 01 2025)
Introduction Dr. Eye
Understanding the desire to preserve the youthful beauty of the eyes for middle-aged women, Dr. Eye offers modern solutions to address all aging issues around the eyes such as sagging eyelids, eye bags, crow’s feet,…





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