If you know a family member or friend with droopy eyelids, or ptosis, you may have seen their experience undergoing eyelid surgery as a corrective intervention. The thought of any kind of surgery, especially on the eyes, can feel somewhat jarring and lead you to wonder the causes behind ptosis. More specifically, you might be thinking, “Is ptosis genetic?” In the article below, we discuss the potential contributors to ptosis, including genes.
What Is Ptosis?
First, let us clarify our understanding of what ptosis is. Ptosis is when the upper eyelid becomes droopy, sometimes enough that it can cover parts of the eye. This drooping can occur when the muscles or nerves of the eyelid get weakened. As ptosis progresses, it can impair vision slightly or even completely. Ptosis can affect one or both eyes, and both eyes can exhibit differing levels of severity.
Can Ptosis Be Genetic?
Simply put, yes, it can be. Some people are just born with ptosis because of how their eyelid muscles formed before they were born, which is called congenital ptosis. This means that if someone in your family has ptosis, there is a chance you might have it as well. It may not always look the same from person to person, though—even if it is inherited.
That being said, not everyone with ptosis got it through their genes. It can also show up later in life for other reasons.
Other Reasons People Get Ptosis
Ptosis does not always come from family history and can be influenced by other factors, including:
- Getting older: As we age, the muscles that help open the eyelids might weaken.
- Injuries: If the eye or eyelid gets hurt, that can also cause drooping.
- Eye surgery: Procedures like cataract surgery can sometimes lead to ptosis.
- Nerve or muscle conditions: Some health problems, like Horner syndrome or myasthenia gravis, can affect the nerves or muscles that move the eyelid.
When ptosis happens later in life, more commonly for adults than children, it is usually called acquired ptosis.
Is Your Ptosis Genetic?
To evaluate if your ptosis is something you were born with or something that developed later, an ophthalmologist will usually take a look and ask some questions. They will want to know when it started and whether anyone in your family has it, too.
If it manifested earlier in life and others in your family also have ptosis, it could be genetic. For children, it is especially important to catch ptosis early. If ptosis is not caught early in children, it can mess with how their vision develops. That is one reason regular eye checkups matter!
Treatment Options for Genetic Ptosis
Treatment depends on how bad the drooping is and whether it is affecting your vision. If the drooping is mild and does not cause problems, a doctor may choose to just want to watch it over time.
But if ptosis is blocking your sight or making daily life harder, surgery might be recommended. The most common surgery tightens the muscle that lifts the eyelid. In more severe cases, a different type of surgery might be needed to help the forehead muscles lift the eyelid instead.
There are also special glasses with a small bar, called a ptosis crutch, that can help lift the lid, but this is not as common.
Living with Ptosis
For some people, ptosis might not seem like a big deal at first, especially if it’s mild.
Over time, though, it can start to affect how you see, how your eyes feel, or even how confident you feel about your appearance. Some people get headaches or eye strain from constantly trying to lift their eyelids or tilt their head to see better. Even though ptosis itself is not usually painful, its impact on your everyday quality of life can still be frustrating—especially if it makes reading, driving, or socializing more difficult than it should be.
If you are experiencing any of these difficulties or would just like to be proactive in your approach, it can be worth visiting the ophthalmologist.
When to See a Doctor
If you have noticed droopy eyelids in yourself or a family member, it is a good idea to see a board-certified ophthalmologist. They can figure out what is causing the ptosis and talk with you about the next steps. Whether it comes from your genes or something else, help is available—and in many cases, treatment can really improve both function and appearance. Come by our clinic for a consultation today!