{"id":734,"date":"2026-08-20T17:07:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/glossar\/ptosis\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T17:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:27:15","slug":"ptosis","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/glossar\/ptosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Ptosis: A drooping eyelid \u2013 causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#was-ist-eine-ptosis\">What is ptosis?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#haufige-ursachen-fur-ein-hangelid\">Common causes of a drooping eyelid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-boxed has-white-warm-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Important note<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis or advice. If you are unsure, or if you require a personalised treatment plan, it is essential that you consult a qualified specialist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A drooping eyelid, medically known as ptosis (or ptose) and blepharoptosis, can be both a cosmetic and a functional problem. If one or both eyelids have sagging tissue, this can cause significant distress to those affected. For people who are considering cosmetic surgery or have already undergone a procedure, understanding such medical terms and their possible implications is particularly important. This glossary entry explains what ptosis is, what causes it, how it is treated and what role a <a href=\"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/after-care-insurance\/\">Consequential Costs Insurance<\/a> can play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"was-ist-eine-ptosis\">What is ptosis?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ptosis refers to the complete or partial drooping of one or both upper eyelids. The upper eyelid hangs lower than normal over the eye and, in severe cases, may partially (up to half the pupil) or completely cover the pupil, leading to a restriction of the field of vision and a narrowing of the palpebral fissure. This is referred to as drooping of the upper eyelid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is important to distinguish true ptosis from so-called drooping eyelids (dermatochalasis), where there is simply excess skin on the upper eyelid, or from pseudoptosis (apparent ptosis, e.g. caused by an enophthalmic eyeball or eyelid asymmetry due to other causes). Whilst drooping eyelids involve excess skin hanging down from the upper eyelid, in true ptosis the position of the eyelid margin itself is too low, often due to weakness or damage to the levator muscle (musculus levator palpebrae superioris) or the sympathically innervated musculus tarsalis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"haufige-ursachen-fur-ein-hangelid\">Common causes of a drooping eyelid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ptosis can have a variety of causes and can occur at any age. A broad distinction is made between congenital and acquired drooping eyelids:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Congenital ptosis (ptosis congenita, congenital ptosis): Often caused by a malformation of the levator muscle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acquired ptosis \u2013 age-related (senile or aponeurotic ptosis): The most common form, in which the tendon of the levator palpebrae muscle is stretched or tears as a result of age-related weakening.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acquired ptosis \u2013 myogenic ptosis: Caused by muscle disorders (e.g. myasthenia gravis, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia) that result in weakness of the levator muscle or other eye muscles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acquired ptosis \u2013 neurogenic ptosis: Caused by damage to the nerves that control the levator muscle. These include: ptosis paralytica (paralysis of the third cranial nerve\/oculomotor nerve, often accompanied by paralytic strabismus), sympathetic ptosis\/Horner\u2019s syndrome (damage to the sympathetic nervous system, usually unilateral and less pronounced, associated with miosis and enophthalmos), or nerve paralysis following a stroke or other neurological conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acquired ptosis \u2013 Traumatic ptosis: Resulting from injuries to the eyelid or the levator muscle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acquired ptosis \u2013 Mechanical ptosis: Caused by tumours, swelling or scarring that weigh down the eyelid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acquired ptosis \u2013 caused by surgery: In rare cases, ptosis may also occur as an undesirable consequence of other operations carried out in the facial area or on the eye.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other causes: Wearing contact lenses for prolonged periods can, in rare cases, contribute to ptosis. Poisoning (e.g. botulism) or systemic diseases can also cause ptosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"typische-symptome-einer-ptosis\">Typical symptoms of ptosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The signs of ptosis can vary depending on its severity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visible drooping of one or both upper eyelids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restricted field of vision, particularly in the upper area, as the drooping eyelid blocks the view.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A tired or sleepy appearance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The need to tilt one\u2019s head back or furrow one\u2019s brow (raising one\u2019s eyebrows) in order to see better.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headaches or muscle tension caused by constantly adopting a compensatory posture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In children: there is a risk of developing amblyopia if the drooping upper eyelid permanently obscures the line of sight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A feeling of heaviness in the eyelids.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The eyes may become dry if the eyelids do not close completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"diagnose-untersuchung-in-der-augenklinik-oder-praxis\">Diagnosis: Examination at an eye clinic or GP surgery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ptosis is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist, often at a specialist eye clinic. The ophthalmologist carries out a thorough examination of the eyes. Key aspects of the ophthalmological examination include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Medical history (history of the illness, onset, duration, accompanying symptoms).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Measurement of the width of the palpebral fissure and the distance from the eyelid margin to the centre of the pupil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assessment of levator function (mobility of the levator muscle).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ruling out other causes of drooping of the eyelid (e.g. pseudoptosis).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examination of eye movement, pupillary response and the anterior segment of the eye.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where appropriate, neurological tests or the administration of eye drops (e.g. an apraclonidine test if Horner\u2019s syndrome is suspected).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the cause is unclear, imaging tests (e.g. MRI, CT) or further specific tests (e.g. a tensilon test if myasthenia is suspected) may be necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"behandlungsoptionen-oft-operativ\">Treatment options: Often surgical<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treatment for ptosis depends on the cause and the severity of the condition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Note: In cases of mild ptosis without functional impairment, immediate treatment is not always necessary; however, regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist are important.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conservative treatment \u2013 In certain forms (e.g. caused by myasthenia gravis), drug therapy may help.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conservative treatments \u2013 So-called ptosis glasses with a small bridge can mechanically lift the eyelid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Surgery (ptosis surgery\/surgical correction): This is the most common treatment method, particularly where vision is impaired, there is a significant cosmetic impairment, or where there is a risk of amblyopia in children. The aim is to improve eyelid elevation and the eyelid aperture. The procedure is usually carried out under local anaesthetic; general anaesthesia is less common.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Levator resection: A procedure to shorten the levator muscle, thereby increasing its lifting power.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frontal suspension: The eyelid is attached to the frontalis muscle (Musculus frontalis) using a strip (autologous or synthetic), so that the eyelid is opened by raising the eyebrows. This procedure is often carried out in cases of severely impaired levator function.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>M\u00fcller muscle resection: In cases of mild ptosis and a good response to phenylephrine eye drops, resection of the musculus tarsalis may be performed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ptosis (ptosis, blepharoptosis) refers to a drooping eyelid, which can be both a cosmetic and a functional problem.<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-734","glossary","type-glossary","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/glossary"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}