How long do drooping eyelids last?
Depending on their treatment, drooping eyelids can often remain for a long time. If the underlying causes are successfully treated, they can recede within weeks to months. Home remedies and creams can also promote a regression of the drooping eyelids, but they usually reappear after a certain time. An operation on the drooping eyelids (usually lasting one to three hours) often promises a lasting improvement, but even in this case the drooping eyelids may reappear due to further structural deterioration of the connective tissue and skin.
Accompanying symptoms
In addition to aesthetic restrictions caused by drooping eyelids, this disease can also have more serious consequences for the eye and its function. For example, very pronounced drooping eyelids can lie in the area of the so-called optical axis. In this case, they prevent the light rays from a certain area of the field of vision from passing through the pupil into the interior of the eye, thus restricting vision in a certain direction (most often on the top outside).
The severity of the restriction can be determined by means of visual field examination (perimetry). In addition, drooping eyelids can cause the eyes to no longer be able to close completely. As a result, the eyes dry out more easily because less tear fluid can be kept on the ocular surface.
This leads to the feeling of dry eyes, which often burn, but can also cause structural damage. For example, the tear film also serves to protect the cornea and conjunctiva. If the eye dries out, the individual structures in the eye can be damaged, which in turn can result in impaired vision, for example in the form of blurred vision.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the drooping eyelids can usually be made on the basis of the clinical picture, exact examinations are not necessary for the first diagnosis. However, the various causes of drooping eyelids should be examined in detail so that any underlying dysfunctions of hormonal systems can be treated and/or the consumption of harmful substances can be limited. In addition, a precise diagnosis of the drooping eyelids also includes an overview of the functional restrictions caused by the malposition of the eyelids.
For example, an examination of the visual field should be performed. Furthermore, it should be checked whether the eyes are at risk of drying out due to the drooping eyelids.
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