Do you have trouble keeping your eyelids open? Are they beginning to impair your vision? Drooping eyelids, also known as ptosis or dermatochalasis, are very common. They are often the result of age, as the skin around the eye loses elasticity and the eyelid muscles weaken.
When this happens, excess skin or fat accumulates above and below the eye, causing sagging eyebrow(s) and bags below the eye(s). This has made upper and lower blepharoplasties, or “eye lifts,” extremely popular surgeries. Read on to learn if you may be a candidate.
HOW DROOPY EYELIDS CAN AFFECT YOUR VISION
Drooping upper eyelids may seem like only a cosmetic issue, but it can actually impact your vision. Severe drooping or sagging of the lids can compromise your peripheral vision and cause difficulty reading or sometimes driving safely.
“Droopy eyelids can prevent you from seeing as much light because there’s a shadow from your upper eyelids that can obscure your vision,” explained Dr. Mary Kate Wilson, an ophthalmologist and oculoplastics fellow with Florida Eye Specialists. “Often, people have to use their eyebrows to raise their eyelids. That can cause headaches by the end of the day, and it causes wrinkles as well.”
People with drooping eyelids often report needing to tilt their heads back or raise their eyebrows to see. This causes other side effects, like tension headaches and even migraines, as a result of constant tilting or raising. Some also experience eye pain and excessively dry or watery eyes. While many patients undergo eyelid surgery to improve their cosmetic appearance, this procedure may also improve their vision and quality of life.
SIGNS YOU MAY NEED DROOPY EYELID SURGERY
According to Dr. Wilson, there are a few key signs you may need droopy eyelid surgery. “If you feel like you can’t see as well as you used to if you’re using your eyebrows to lift your eyelids, or if you have to raise your head to see, these are all signs you may need surgery,” she said. “I also tell my patients, if you use your hands to lift your eyelids manually and can see better, that’s a big sign that surgery would make a difference.”
There are a variety of surgeries that can correct droopy eyelids, from an upper blepharoplasty to an eyebrow lift to raising the eyelid itself. You may need droopy eyelid surgery if:
- The skin on your upper or lower eyelids sags
- You have trouble seeing due to your eyelids hanging too low
- You find it difficult to keep your eyes open due to heavy eyelids
- You feel that your eyes make you look “sleepy”
In cases where you feel your upper eyelid is interfering with your vision, the doctor can perform measurements and tests to determine if the procedure is medically necessary, in which case it could be covered by insurance. Surgeries such as a mid-face lift or to improve the bags under your eyes are not covered by insurance. (I would add this bc people come to see us for the lower lids thinking it will be covered)
HOW EYELID SURGERY CAN IMPROVE YOUR VISION
During droopy eyelid surgery, a surgeon removes the excess skin, lifts the brow or tightens the eyelid muscle that is causing the upper lid to droop. This may enhance your field of vision, allowing you to see more of your peripheral vision. Many patients also report a much more youthful and well-rested appearance after having this surgery.
Eyelid surgery can sound intimidating, but it is an extremely common surgery, and a caring surgeon will recommend a safe treatment plan. Florida Eye Specialists has one of the most experienced and highly trained eyelid surgeons in Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. David A. Kostick.
MEET YOUR DROOPY EYELID SPECIALISTS: DR. DAVID KOSTICK AND DR. MARY-KATE WILSON
Dr. Kostick, a renowned oculoplastic surgeon, is fellowship-trained in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, including surgery for drooping eyelids. Before coming to Florida Eye Specialists, he practiced at the Mayo Clinic for over 15 years. Joining Dr. Kostick is ophthalmologist Dr. Wilson. Currently an oculoplastics fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Kostick, Dr. Wilson is dedicated to working collaboratively with her patients to meet their goals.
Our oculoplastics team and specialized cosmetic consultants will walk you through all of your treatment options for droopy eyelids and bags under your eyes.
EYELID SURGERY – BLEPHAROPLASTY: WHAT TO EXPECT
Dr. Wilson says that blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure. “We numb around the eyelid very well so that the patient is comfortable,” she explained. “Afterwards, we ask our patients to take it very easy, especially during the first three days. They use an ointment twice a day and do a lot of icing. We are a team with our patients because we want them to achieve their goals, and that’s why we love our jobs.”
Before undergoing eyelid surgery, you will receive a cosmetic eyelid evaluation. At Florida Eye Specialists, this process involves an eye exam to measure your vision, eye pressure, and ocular surface and determine if your eyes are healthy enough for surgery. We will also determine if your insurance may cover your procedure or will be a cosmetic procedure. Lower eyelid blepharoplasties and mid-face lifts are cosmetic surgeries.
After discussing the surgical procedures with the doctor, you will meet with our surgical coordinator. You will discuss available dates for surgery, preoperative medical evaluation requirements, and procedure costs.
Learn more about eligibility and what to expect here.
DROOPY EYELID SURGERY COST
As a medical procedure, an eyelid or eyebrow lifting surgery may be covered by your insurance provider if your upper eyelid interferes with your vision. For a cosmetic procedure, costs range from $4,100 – $7,900, based on the patient’s case. Schedule a consultation with our oculoplastics team to learn more.
DROOPY EYELID AFTER CATARACT SURGERY
It’s not uncommon for some patients to develop post-surgical ptosis after cataract surgery. The good news is that this side effect is often short-lived. Most patients recover within six months.
If drooping eyelids are obscuring your vision or making you self-conscious, you may benefit from blepharoplasty. Schedule an appointment with the oculoplastics team at Florida Eye Specialists to discuss your eyelid concerns and treatment options.
Other Cosmetic Procedures Available at Florida Eye Specialists
Blepharoplasty or Brow Lift
A brow lift, also called a forehead lift, raises the brow line to make your forehead and eye area look younger. Blepharoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the eyelids, improving vision and reducing sagging. Some patients may benefit from both procedures for a more comprehensive rejuvenation.
Mid-Face Lift or Cheek Lift
A mid-face lift, or cheek lift, tightens sagging skin around the cheeks and below the eyes, improving skin elasticity and reducing signs of aging from sun damage. Dr. Kostick specializes in mid-face lifts, providing a refreshed look by rejuvenating the lower eye and cheek areas.
Lower Blepharoplasty
With three fat pads in the lower eyelid, it’s common to develop a puffy appearance as we age. Lower blepharoplasty helps by removing excess skin and fat to reduce bulging, smooth out under-eye bags, and improve the overall appearance of the eyes.
Fat Grafting
Fat grafting adds volume to sunken or hollow areas of the face. Fat is taken from another part of your body, like your abdomen, and grafted to the face to enhance contours and improve skin texture. This procedure helps rejuvenate and restore facial volume.
Erbium Laser Skin Resurfacing
Erbium laser skin resurfacing can be done at the same time as your surgery. This can help reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate your skin.
ABOUT FLORIDA EYE SPECIALISTS
Florida Eye Specialists is the largest multi-specialty ophthalmology practice in Northeast Florida, with offices across the region including in Fernandina Beach, Mandarin, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, Palm Coast and Ormond Beach, Florida. Florida Eye Specialists is a comprehensive eye care practice that features a complete spectrum of ophthalmology services. Our surgical services include cataract surgery, LASIK eye surgery, corneal procedures, glaucoma treatment options, oculoplastic eyelid surgery, dry eye treatment, and even cosmetic and skin care services. Schedule an appointment at one of our locations.