Droopy hooded eyelid problem

[thecatsatonthematagain]

One of my eyelids has drooped over the past 3-4 years and is now hooded. The other eye has not changed and has a medium indent/second eye lid. This means one eye appears more open than the other. They look odd.

Is there anything I can do? Medical, herbal, trick??

I've tried make up tricks for hooded eyes just on one eye as the hooded eyelid looks paler than the other and I've tried those sticky fake eye lid indents but they are visible the moment I make any kind of facial expression, even with make up over the top.

Am I stuck with this?

It might be drastic but the surgery for this is rather successful I believe.

That's interesting @DogsAkimbo .

Do you know anyone who's had it done?

To add to the mix I'm basically similar to a counsellor so I face people every day so the idea of having a patched up bruised eye is a bit scary!

Surgery is very simple and is done under a local anaesthetic and a sedative. NHS will only do it if the eyelid is obstructing your vision. Usually it is an optician who notices this first. Private medical insurance will only pay for it if vision is obscured otherwise you will have to pay. the scars completely disappear and there are no after effects.

I have one droopy
eyelid too (caused during old style laser eye surgery about 20 years ago) and it's always bugged me especially when I see photos of myself. since aging has sagged my skin it's got noticeably worse. I'm thinking about trying those eyelid strips? I doubt Botox will help and makeup difference is negligible . No chance I'm getting (or can afford) surgery.

Not personally but think it’s very common and effective. Blepharoplasty.

I had a droopy eyelid and ignored it till a switched on optician flagged to my GP he was worried I had myasthenia gravis. It's a rare neurological disorder that causes droopy eyelids (ptosis) but can also cause double vision (I don't have double vision). My myasthenia gravis had spread to my whole body by the time I was diagnosed, but in some people it only affects their eyes.

Thanks for your replies. I've just had a Google, the surgery is about £2k (I think for one eye) and there is bruising for up to 3 weeks. They recommend a least a week off work.

I've tried those sticky strips. Perhaps it's me but I didn't get on with them and I really tried. My skin in naturally oily so I wonder if this didn't help. I have to make facial expressions in my job and really felt like the strip moved and became visible.

@SweetSakura I've just read up as I'd never heard of this. How are you now?

I don't have the other symptoms other than that eye is also twitching a lot these days.

Depending on where you live, an upper blephroplasty for both eyes is usually around 2k.

Have you tried a few different brands of the eye tapes? I've used a few but only one works. And it does work, really well. Got it from Amazon. Buy a few and have an experiment!

I am ok. I had been going to doctors for a while with other symptoms and not getting a diagnosis (because my blood tests were "normal" ) so it's a relief to know what it is. But I wish I had caught it earlier. I suspect I had ocular myasthenia (ptosis) only for some years before I got other symptoms, as I can see it in the photos going back 5 or 6 years.

@WhatIsThisPlease

You have to tell us which one you purchased that actually works? 😉

Glad you're ok @SweetSakura. Frustrating to realise something could have been caught sooner.

I think I'll book an opticians appt as I haven't been for a long time, and invest in some different sticky strips. I'm not sure I'm desperate enough for 2k surgery...yet...but it's been bugging me.

Thank you all.

Yea @WhatIsThisPlease do share if you have any tips

My mum was investigated for myasthenia gravis but doesn't have it, so she is now waiting for the surgery. It isn't nice by all accounts, but should do the trick. The stupid thing is that the NHS does not want to operate even if it affects your vision, claiming it's cosmetic. But her consultant has agreed to do it on the NHS so she is now waiting for a cancellation.

My aunt also had droopy eyelids and had them lifted on the NHS, but that was some years ago.

It happens to a lot of us over time - many people’s eyes are uneven or one smaller and it becomes more obvious as you get older. I do know someone who had a blepharoplasty done on the NHS because it was affecting her vision so it might differ between doctors etc.

I looked into Plexr which is the cheaper “non-surgical blepharoplasty” but wasn’t quite reassured enough about its safety and effectiveness.

Ptosis of the eye I got it on my right but I've never got any answers from the opticain just that I'm a complicated case and that it's dry eye. 🙃 I'd go to the opticians just to see if they have any ideas. Basically similar thing happened to me but like over night I woke up and my eyelid looked droopy and now it's happening to the other but for years all I've been diagnosed with is dry eye but I ain't convinced as I think they like that diagnosis because it's easier for them to say.

I follow an aesthetic nurse from the US (injectionexpert) on Instagram. When people come to her for hooded eye treatment (Botox or filler) she tells them to use these prescription only drops Upneeq instead (also on Insta) she said she uses them herself daily for her own ptosis. I am interested but I don't know if they are available here.

Just googled it and the results only last for 6 hours. Also it is $220 per month so will be more here. What about a Botox eyebrow lift?

I’ve had ptosis repair on both eyelids - the left one was done twice, as the first surgery didn’t work. It was done on the NHS, as it was obscuring my vision.

The second surgery was successful and the recovery period was quite short. I was looking less bruised by day 5 later and fully recovered 14 days later. I had to use antibiotic ointment for 14 days and eye drops for 4 weeks.

A friend of mine who is Chinese, uses little, plastic, elliptical shaped sticker things on her upper lid to help open it up. It might be worth a try first.

My mum had bilateral blepharoplasty done over 15yrs ago. It was day surgery and from memory, she had either miniscule stiches in a small row, or possibly just steristrips. I just can't recall the details but she was very pleased and had very little pain. This was abroad, so I can't recommend a surgeon in the UK.

Speak to your GP/optician as a first port of call.