Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety The Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Ptosis By Troy Bedinghaus, OD linkedin Troy L. Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association. Learn about our editorial process Troy Bedinghaus, OD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Johnstone M. Kim, MD on May 24, 2020 Johnstone M. Kim, MD, is board-certified in ophthalmology. He's a practicing physician at Midwest Retina in Dublin, Ohio and previously served as a full-time faculty member at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Kresge Eye Institute in Detroit, Michigan. Learn about our Medical Review Board Johnstone M. Kim, MD Updated on May 24, 2020 Print More in Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety Glaucoma Cataracts Macular Degeneration Vision Loss Dry Eye Syndrome Contact Lenses Glasses Exams & Procedures Vision Improvement Surgery Eye Anatomy Kid's Eye Health View All Drooping of the upper eyelid is referred to as ptosis (TOE-sis). The condition usually affects older people but sometimes occurs in children as well. Ptosis can occur in one eye or both eyes at the same time. Getty Images/Nsey Benajah/EyeEm Causes Ptosis may be caused by normal aging, injury to the eye or eye disease. In most cases, it is caused by weakness of the eyelid muscle or eye nerve problems. Sometimes the condition is present at birth, referred to as congenital ptosis. If left untreated, congenital ptosis may prevent normal vision development and may increase the risk of developing a lazy eye. Risk Factors People at risk for developing ptosis include those with eye tumors, diabetes, history of stroke, cancer, and neurological disorders. Older people are at risk because aging sometimes causes the eye muscles to weaken. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of ptosis include the following: Drooping eyelidsDifficulty closing the eye or blinkingTearingEye fatigueDouble visionCrossed eyes The most obvious sign of ptosis is drooping of the eyelid. Some people with severe drooping have difficulty seeing, often tilting their head back in order to see under the eyelid. Diagnosis An eye doctor will diagnose ptosis by conducting a thorough examination of the eyelids. Measurements will be taken of the height of the eyelids and the strength of the eyelid muscles. The doctor will also determine the underlying cause of the ptosis. To measure its effect on vision, an eye doctor will conduct a computerized visual field test. Treatment The best treatment option for ptosis is a ptosis repair. It may be done in conjunction with a blepharoplasty to remove associated excess eyelid skin that causes some droopiness. A blepharoplasty is a surgery which tightens the muscles of the eyelids. In some cases, the eyebrows may be surgically lifted. Surgery usually produces favorable outcomes for those with ptosis, improving both vision and appearance. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ptosis. 26 Jul 2007.