When you look in the mirror, does your upper eyelid seem to droop a little? For some, this is just a minor cosmetic problem. But for others, this drooping eyelid can cause poor vision, headaches, and neck pain. In medicine, we call this condition Ptosis or Blepharoptosis . If young children have this condition, their vision may be impaired and they may develop a condition called amblyopia , and sometimes long-term vision problems.
Usually, the main treatment for this is plastic surgery. Especially if it interferes with your vision , doctors will resort to it. But before you go there, there are a few exercises you can try to control your droopy eyelids, or at least improve them a little. As with any exercise, it's best to start slowly and listen to your body.
Are these exercises really effective?
Although facial exercises have been all the rage lately, there are very few scientific studies that have actually looked at how effective they are at reducing droopy eyelids. However, in one encouraging study, participants reported seeing significant improvements in 18 out of 20 areas of their face. However, these studies have been conducted on very small groups of people. Therefore, it is not yet possible to medically prove that facial exercises improve eyelids 100%.
Researchers say that if you expect any results from these exercises, you have to devote a good amount of time and dedication to them.
Remember, to see results from these exercises, you need to do them with dedication, about 20-30 minutes a day, 6 or 7 days a week.
So, what are these exercises that can be done?
Let's now see what these simple exercises are that you can do at home.
1. The 'Trataka' exercise from yoga (Trataka Yogic Exercise)
Trataka is a series of yoga exercises that are beneficial for eye health in many ways. One of them is called 'Bahiranga'. Here's how to do it.
| Steps | What to do |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Sit up straight, either on the floor or in a chair that allows you to sit upright. Keep your head straight and your palms facing down. |
| Step 2 | Open your eyes and look at a single point straight ahead. |
| Step 3 | Without moving your head, slowly turn your eyes to your right shoulder and stare at it for a few seconds without blinking. |
| Step 4 | Again, bring the eye to the center (straight) and then do the same to the left side. |
There are several other movements that can be added to this exercise. You should keep your head straight while doing all of these.
- Look up and down.
- Look at the tip of your nose.
- Try to look up as far as you can between your eyebrows.
- Rotate your eyeballs clockwise and counter-clockwise.
2. Eye Patching - Especially for young children
While wearing an eye patch may not seem like an exercise, it is actually one of the best ways to strengthen an eye with a drooping eyelid. This is especially important for children with congenital ptosis .
Imagine a small child with a drooping eyelid in just one eye. That child is at high risk of developing other problems, such as lazy eye (amblyopia) or strabismus, where both eyes lose vision in the same direction.
Doctors usually wait until a child is 3-5 years old before performing surgery for this. So during that time, when the good eye is covered with an eye patch, the weak eye has to work harder. This strengthens that eye and can prevent those additional problems from occurring. While it used to be recommended to wear the eye patch for about 6 hours a day, new studies show that this exercise is effective even if you wear it for two hours a day.
Be careful of these things while exercising.
Your safety is also very important when doing this exercise.
- If you feel pain: If you feel pain while doing any of these exercises, reduce the number of times you do them. Or stop doing them immediately .
- Correct technique: Know how to do it correctly, because using facial muscles incorrectly can actually increase wrinkles.
- If you have had surgery: If you have previously had cosmetic procedures such as facial injections or dermal fillers, this exercise may not be suitable for you, as it may reduce the longevity of the fillers.
If you have these symptoms, definitely see a doctor.
Finally, some of the symptoms associated with ptosis can be a sign of a more serious condition involving your muscles, nerves, brain, or eyeball. Therefore, if you have any of the symptoms below, be sure to seek medical advice immediately.
| Warning feature | Description and what to do |
|---|---|
| Effect on vision | If your field of vision is limited. |
| Double vision | If one thing seems like two. |
| Eye pain or redness | If there is obvious pain or redness in the eye. |
| Difficulty moving the eye | If it is difficult to turn the eye in the desired direction. |
| Facial or body weakness | If you have muscle weakness in your face, arms or legs, difficulty speaking or swallowing, and a headache, this is a serious emergency. Go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. |
| Sudden drooping of one eye | If one eyelid suddenly droops for no apparent reason, see a doctor immediately. |
Even if you don't think your drooping eyelids are a serious medical problem, it's always best to talk to your doctor about it. He or she can advise you on what else you can do to protect your vision and your vision as you age.
Take-Home Message
- Drooping eyelids (ptosis) are not only a cosmetic problem, they can also affect your vision.
- Although the main treatment for this is surgery, some exercises may provide some relief.
- To get results from exercise, you need to do it every day with dedication.
- For children with congenital droopy eyelids, covering the eye with a good eye patch is a very effective treatment.
- If you experience sudden changes in vision, double vision, or serious symptoms such as facial weakness, seek medical advice immediately.
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