If a drooping eyelid interferes with your vision or is adding unwelcomed years to your appearance, our board-certified ophthalmologists and oculoplastics surgeon can perform an outpatient procedure to lift your eyelid, instantly improving your vision, appearance, and confidence.
Ptosis, also called blepharoptosis, is a condition where the eyelid is droopy. It can be due to aging or caused by trauma. It can occur when the muscle that normally raises the eyelid becomes weakened over time or injured due to trauma or other diseases processes. It can block your vision and be cosmetically bothersome.
Ptosis surgery is effective in lifting the eyelid, and is typically performed in an outpatient setting under sedation and local anesthesia. Your surgeon will decide on the best and most effective procedure depending on the cause and severity of your ptosis. Your provider will explain how to care for your eye so that you can make a full, quick recovery.
Patients usually stay in the hospital just a few hours after surgery. They will not be able to drive themselves home because ointment applied post-surgery can make vision blurry. Your eyes do not need to be patched after surgery. You will be prescribed an ointment to apply to your eyes after surgery. Sleeping propped up for the first couple of days with an ice pack placed on the area can help swelling subside faster. Over-the-counter pain reliever may also be helpful.
Most patients are able to return to work within a few days, unless their job involves manual labor or heavy lifting. A follow-up appointment will usually be scheduled the following week to check on healing.
Immediately after surgery patients may experience tight and sore eyelids, light sensitivity, and some bruising or swelling. Dryness is common after ptosis surgery, and lubricating eye drops are recommended to relieve symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Rarely, other risks include infection, bleeding, over-correction or under-correction. Your Cizik Eye Clinic provider will discuss any additional side effects with you and answer any of your questions before the procedure.
In severe cases where vision is impacted, insurance may cover ptosis repair. Your insurance company will need documentation of the medical necessity from your physician, including photos and visual field test results. Check what percent of the cost your insurance plan may cover.
Turn back the clock with an aesthetic or cosmetic treatment with one of our board-certified ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeons.
Assistant Professor
Director of Oculoplastic Surgery
Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Professor and Chair
Richard S. Ruiz, MD, Distinguished University Chair
Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Associate Professor Medical Director, Robert Cizik Eye Clinic
John P. McGovern Distinguished Professor in Ophthalmology
Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science McGovern Medical School at
UTHealth Houston
At Robert Cizik Eye Clinic, we offer patients access to highly specialized eye and vision care. To ask us a question, schedule an appointment, or learn more about us, please call (713) 486-9400, or click below to send us a message. In the event of an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.