Logan Steele
While ageing is a common cause of droopy eyelids, it can also be caused by incorrect Botox injections, injury, or disease. Although plastic surgery is the typical route for treating droopy eyelids, there are several exercises you can try to improve the appearance of your eyelids and strengthen the muscles that control them. These exercises are non-invasive and can be done at home. However, it's important to note that there is little medical evidence to support the effectiveness of eyelid exercises, and results may vary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Ageing, incorrect Botox injections, injury, disease, or genetics |
| Treatment | Surgery, prescription eye drops, eyelid exercises |
| Surgery | Plastic surgery, ptosis correction surgery, blepharoplasty |
| Prescription eye drops | Apraclonidine |
| Eyelid exercises | Eye squeezes, eyelid lifts, Trataka, Bahiranga, rapid blinking, eye rolls, etc. |
| Natural remedies | Applying cold cucumber slices, aloe vera gel, yoghurt, and oatmeal paste |
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What You'll Learn
Facial exercises
Although there is no scientific evidence that facial exercises can improve eyelid muscles, some people believe that exercising the muscles of the face can strengthen and tighten them.
The Wide-Eye
- Open your eyes as wide as possible for about 5 seconds.
- Relax your eyes for 5 seconds.
- Continue this cycle for 30 seconds.
The Forehead Push
- Place your hands on your forehead and push against it with light pressure.
- Using your forehead muscles, try to raise your forehead up for 5 seconds.
- Repeat 5-10 times.
The Temple Tap
- Use two fingers to press gently against each temple.
- Open and close your eyes rapidly.
- Continue for about 20 seconds.
The Brow Lift
- Lightly place one finger at the end of each eyebrow, facing forward.
- Using your facial muscles, look down as far as possible.
The Eyebrow Hold
- Raise your eyebrows and place a finger underneath, holding them up for several seconds.
- Try to close your eyelids at the same time to create resistance, similar to weight lifting.
The Eye Roll
Perform quick, forcible blinks and eye rolls to work the eyelid muscles.
The Trataka Yogic Eye Exercise
- Sit in a meditative, upright posture, either on the floor or on a firm chair.
- Fix your eyes on a specific object and stare at it without looking away for as long as you can.
It is important to note that repeated muscle use in the face can cause wrinkles to become more defined, so be sure to use proper techniques when performing these exercises. Additionally, if you have had cosmetic surgery or dermal fillers, these exercises may not be suitable as they can affect the longevity of the fillers.
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Eye exercises
While there is limited scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of eye exercises, they are still recommended by optometrists and may help to improve muscle strength and lift drooping eyelids.
Trataka
This yogic exercise is renowned in the ayurvedic community for improving overall eye health and vision. It involves fixing your gaze on a specific object and staring at it without looking away. You can also try Bahiranga, a variation of Trataka, which involves sitting in a meditative, upright posture and keeping your eyes open while looking straight ahead at a single point.
Resistance exercises
These exercises create resistance for the eyelid muscles, similar to weightlifting. You can place your fingers under your eyebrows and hold them up while trying to close your eyelids. Alternatively, you can use your fingers to hold the upper eyelids in place and then try to close them.
Quick, forcible blinks and eye rolls
These exercises work the eyelid muscles and can be done rapidly in a series of short bursts.
Open and close
Open your eyes as wide as possible for about 5 seconds, then relax them for 5 seconds. Repeat this cycle for 30 seconds.
Forehead raise
Place your hands on your forehead and push against it with light pressure. Use your forehead muscles to raise your forehead up for 5 seconds, repeating this 5-10 times.
Eye strain prevention
Gently massage the area around your eyes and temples with your fingertips. This can be done multiple times a day, especially as part of your 20-20-20 routine to prevent eye strain when working on a computer, using a phone, or reading/writing for long periods.
Eye movement exercises
Slowly move your eyes up and down, repeating 3 times, then move your eyes slowly from right to left, repeating 3 times. Imagine a large figure-of-8 in front of you and follow the loop for about 30 seconds, then switch directions.
Focus change
Hold your finger a few inches away from your face and focus on it, then switch your gaze to an object further away, before returning your focus to your finger.
Additional tips
- If you have had cosmetic surgery, fillers, or injections, consult a doctor before trying facial exercises, as they may affect the results.
- If you experience pain or discomfort during any of these exercises, stop or reduce the number of repetitions.
- Always be mindful of your technique to avoid causing wrinkles.
- Cleanse, warm, and gently massage your eyelids to increase circulation and nerve responses.
- Apply a cool paste made from aloe vera gel, yoghurt, cucumber, and oatmeal to your eyelids for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
- Apply sunscreen daily to reduce premature ageing.
- If non-invasive methods are ineffective, consult an optometrist or doctor about surgical procedures.
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Eye drops
Doctors may prescribe eye drops called oxymetazoline to adults with acquired or congenital ptosis. This medication stimulates the levator muscle, which is responsible for lifting the upper eyelid, encouraging the eyelids to open wider. For best results, these eye drops should be applied daily. However, it is important to note that oxymetazoline is not effective for ptosis resulting from injury or nerve problems.
Another type of eye drop mentioned in relation to treating ptosis contains apraclonidine. These eye drops can temporarily alleviate ptosis symptoms by stimulating the Muller muscle, which sits behind the levator muscle and contributes to a small amount of eyelid lifting.
While eye drops can be a helpful non-surgical treatment option for ptosis, it is important to consult with an ophthalmologist or eye care specialist to determine the most suitable treatment approach for an individual's specific condition.
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Surgery
Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a procedure that can improve the appearance of the eyelids by removing excess skin, fat, or muscle. It can also help with vision problems caused by sagging eyelids. Upper eyelid surgery typically involves an incision made in the natural crease above the eye, through which the cosmetic surgeon will remove excess skin and fat and/or adjust the surrounding muscles. Lower eyelid surgery can be performed to correct eyelid bags, with incisions generally located on the outer edge of the lower eyelid, just beneath the eyelashes or inside the eyelid.
Ptosis surgery is a specific type of eyelid surgery that involves lifting the eyelid to improve its position and the patient's vision. It is considered the only effective way to tighten the levator muscle that lifts the upper eyelid. During ptosis surgery, the surgeon makes an opening in the skin of the upper eyelid to access the small muscle that raises the eyelid. They then place stitches to tighten this muscle and raise the eyelid. Ptosis surgery is performed under local anaesthesia with sedation, meaning the patient is awake but does not feel the procedure. The operation usually takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on whether one or both eyelids are treated.
While eyelid surgery is primarily a cosmetic procedure, it can also improve the field of vision for people whose sagging upper eyelids obstruct their sight. It is generally safe, but as with any surgery, there are risks involved. Complications may include bleeding from the wound, infection, damage to the cornea, and incomplete or abnormal closure of the eyelids.
The best candidates for eyelid surgery are typically people aged 30 and above who are in good health and have no other eye conditions. However, anyone over the age of 18 can undergo the procedure. It is recommended that patients consult a board-certified eye care specialist to discuss the risks and benefits of the surgery and manage expectations.
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Natural remedies
While there is a lack of scientific evidence that eyelid exercises improve ptosis (the medical term for eyelid drooping), some sources suggest that working the muscles around the eyes may have some benefit. One study found that performing facial exercises at least three times a week for a minimum of 20 weeks can improve the appearance of certain parts of the face. However, this study only included middle-aged females, so more research is needed.
- Open your eyes as wide as possible for about 5 seconds, then relax your eyes for 5 seconds. Repeat this for 30 seconds.
- Place your hands on your forehead and push against it with light pressure. Using your forehead muscles, try to raise your forehead up for 5 seconds. Repeat 5-10 times.
- Use two fingers to press gently against each temple. Open and close your eyes rapidly for about 20 seconds.
- Gaze upward and open your eyes as wide as possible. At the same time, stick your tongue out and down as far as it will go. Hold for 5-10 seconds while exhaling with a "haaa" breath.
- Close your eyes tightly for a few seconds, then open them wide. Repeat several times.
- Place a finger above your eyebrow to create resistance while lifting the eyelid.
In addition to exercises, there are some natural remedies that may help improve the appearance of droopy eyelids:
- Applying cold things like cucumber slices or chamomile tea bags can help tighten eyelid skin.
- Vitamin A can help the skin make more collagen, which can make it look younger and stronger, reducing droopiness.
- Getting at least eight hours of sleep per night can help prevent eye puffiness and drooping, as well as reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Drinking plenty of water can help keep the skin hydrated, plump, and supple, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and promoting a more youthful look.
- Creams containing hyaluronic acid and other substances naturally found in the body can add volume to crevices in the skin.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several reasons why eyelids droop, including ageing, incorrect Botox injections, injury, disease, and genetics.
Some exercises that target the muscles around the eye include:
- Opening the eyes as wide as possible for about 5 seconds, relaxing the eyes for 5 seconds, and repeating this for 30 seconds.
- Placing the hands on the forehead and pushing against it with light pressure, then using the forehead muscles to raise the forehead up for 5 seconds.
- Using two fingers to press gently against each temple, then opening and closing the eyes rapidly for about 20 seconds.
- The Trataka yogic eye exercise, which involves staring at a specific object without averting your gaze.
Yes, there are a few medical treatments to improve eyelid muscles, including prescription eye drops, surgery, and botox injections.
Some natural remedies to improve eyelid muscles include applying cold cucumber slices to the eyes, and applying a paste made from aloe vera gel, plain yoghurt, cucumber, and oatmeal to the eyelids.
Some signs that droopy eyelids may be a cause for concern include weakness of facial muscles, arms, or legs, paired with difficulty speaking or swallowing and a headache. If the sagging eyelids interfere with your ability to see, it is recommended to speak with a doctor about medical treatments.
