The old saying goes that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but when you live with low-lying lids, they can also be a snapshot of your age.

Along with crepey skin around your eyes, some people develop a condition called acquired ptosis, causing the eyelids to droop or sag. Once upon a time, surgery was the only solution, but now patients can see results in as little as five minutes with one-dose-a-day eyedrops called Upneeq. 

What is Acquired Ptosis?

Low-lying lids, or “acquired ptosis,” can affect anyone at any age, and it’s more than just a cosmetic concern. As the lid droops, it can obstruct your vision, making driving, reading, and completing daily tasks more challenging. In severe cases, it can force the patient to tilt their head back to see.

Sometimes, ptosis is caused by your genetics, but in most cases it develops because of some other condition affecting the muscles and nerves around the eye.

Aponeurotic Ptosis

As we age, the levator muscles that support our eyelids become less elastic and lose strength, resulting in a permanent “sleepy” appearance, no matter how much beauty rest you get. Aponeurotic ptosis can affect anyone of any age, but it’s more prevalent in those over 40.

Frequently rubbing your eyes can also cause those prone to aponeurotic ptosis to develop the condition. 

Mechanical Ptosis

Growths or cysts on the lid can physically weigh down the lid in a condition called mechanical ptosis. Surgical removal of the excess weight generally resolves sagging lids after a sufficient recovery period. 

Neurogenic Ptosis

In some cases, the nerves that control muscle movement are the issue rather than the muscles themselves. When disruptions in your neural pathways are the cause, it is called neurogenic ptosis. Myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder, often causes ptosis and other symptoms, including difficulty chewing, swallowing, and moving the eye.

Myogenic Ptosis

Those living with other disorders that cause muscle weakness, such as muscular dystrophy, can develop myogenic ptosis. As the condition progresses, the drooping often worsens along with it. 

Traumatic Ptosis

Traumatic ptosis is caused by injury to the levator muscle, but it is typically temporary until the area heals and the swelling subsides. It can take additional time for the muscle to regain its strength, but surgery might be necessary in cases where it doesn’t resolve itself. 

How Upneeq Works

Upneeq, available now with a prescription from Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Institute, is an FDA-approved oxymetazoline hydrochloride drop that contracts the levator muscle, which in turn raises the eyelid, giving you more youthful-looking lids for up to six hours per day with a single drop. 

For those living with aponeurotic ptosis or Botox-induced ptosis, it can create a visible lift for patients looking for a less-invasive solution to blepharoplasty (surgical eyelid lift). *

With the current AST Virtual Open House event, there’s never been a better time to see what Upneeq can do for you! Call us or stop in between October 10 & October 21 for 10% off your Upneeq prescription, along with tons of other skincare specials that are too good to pass up!

*Consult your physician before starting Upneeq if you have any contraindications such as, but not limited to:

  • overactive thyroid gland
  • closed angle glaucoma
  • eye pain
  • high blood pressure
  • coronary artery disease
  • a condition with dry eyes, dry mouth and arthritis called Sjogren’s syndrome
  • an eye infection