Ptosis describes droopy upper eyelids, where the sagging skin obscures your vision by partially covering the pupil of your eyes.
In addition, ptosis affects the appearance of your eyes, so much so that you appear sleepy and tired. Droopy upper eyelids are prevalent among old and aging people, but the condition also cuts across all age groups.
What causes droopy upper eyelid (ptosis)?
Ptosis in children. 
Ptosis in adults.
Involutional upper eyelid ptosis
This happens gradually. Over time, tissues supporting the upper eyelids stretch. It is until people start to age, that one can clearly see the stretch and droopiness of the upper eyelids.
Like many eye conditions, eyelid ptosis can be corrected by resecting a levator muscle which is stretched, making the upper eyelids appear droopy. In doing so, the upper eyelid will be lifted.
Muscular upper eyelid ptosis
This kind of eyelid ptosis occurs very early on in childhood and is due to existence of a weak levator muscle in the eyelids. A child’s vision may be affected by this kind of ptosis and this is evident by when the child is experiencing difficulty when walking as they are always lifting up their chin to see well.
At this point, it may be necessary for the child to see an ophthalmologist for ptosis correction. However, if the ptosis is not severe, the ophthalmologist may recommend other forms of treatment to help achieve even upper eyelids and improve your child’s vision.
Other causes of upper eyelid ptosis
Research has shown that wearing contact lens for a very long time may also cause droopy upper eyelids. The pressure that the contact lens exact on the upper eyelids can cause them to stretch and appear saggy. Wearing prescription glasses is a great substitute for contact lenses that could help prevent ptosis.
A popular misconception is that myopia or near-sightedness causes ptosis. On the contrary, the reverse is true, where ptosis (especially if the condition is congenital) can develop into myopia if not corrected in time. In both instances, it is important to visit your doctor to seek the proper treatment.
Triple eyelids should not be confused with having double eyelids. Triple eyelids occur when there are two folds on the upper eyelid instead of just one fold. Some of the causes for triple eyelids include excess fats, redundant skin and presence of dysfunctional muscle tissue in the eyelids. Although age remains a major factor that causes triple eyelids.
Correcting droopy upper eyelid
While Botox can be done to help slightly reduce droopiness of the eyelids, it is a short term solution and cannot be relied to completely correct upper eyelid ptosis. Botox is commonly known to be the best procedure to help reduce wrinkles development. Botox can be used to lift the eyebrows and while doing so, it can slightly lift the eyelids.
If you are looking for a more permanent solution to droopy eyelids, then consider ptosis correction surgery for the droopy upper eyelids. Ptosis surgery is a permanent solution, with very few cases of a second procedure. Droopy eyes after a ptosis surgery, however, can reoccur due to ageing.
It is important to visit a professional plastic surgeon or ophthalmologist for a consultation and a thorough assessment of your condition. This will be the first step to correcting ptosis and you can be sure to be in safe hands. The procedure will help you get a more vibrant, youthful look as well improving your vision.
Can insurance companies cover your ptosis surgery?
Health insurance companies only cover medical conditions, which in this case, ptosis is indeed classified as a medical condition. For cosmetic eyelid surgery, they may not cover the costs for you.
Be sure to check which treatment is right for you or seek professional advice from your plastic surgeon.
Final thoughts
Ptosis correction surgery is a highly recommended treatment for people with upper eyelid ptosis. You can begin by reading up reviews of patients with successful ptosis correction surgeries and look for a good plastic surgeon in Singapore – starting with our recommended list here.