In addition, with aging, excess skin and bags around the eyes can also develop, leading to the tired, sleepy look. When the drooping is mild, it may be barely noticeable and not impair vision. The central visual acuity, the vision necessary for reading an eye chart, is usually not impaired. A special test called, a visual field test, can be performed to determine if vision is affected by the eyelid ptosis. In some cases, if the vision loss is severe, medical insurance may cover some or all of the costs for surgery.
Some patients elect to have the surgery for cosmetic reasons.
Surgery can be performed to repair drooping eyelids and restore them to their natural shape and contour. The procedure is performed usually under local anesthesia as an outpatient. The procedure is painless, takes less than an hour and patients can usually resume their normal activities in about a week.