Droopy Eyelid Exercises - Fix Ptosis Instantly without Surgery

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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Aman Priya Khanna
Written by Nikita Tyagi, last updated on 10 January 2023
Droopy Eyelid Exercises - Fix Ptosis Instantly without Surgery

Droopy eyelids, or ptosis, is where the eyelid droops down and covers part of the eye. This can happen to one or both eyes and can be caused by several things, including ageing, injury, or disease.

Ptosis can range from mild to severe and, in some cases, can even impact vision. If you're dealing with droopy eyelids, ptosis exercises can help you improve the condition.

Droopy eyelid exercises or ptosis exercises strengthen the muscles around the eye that help lift the lid. In this article, let's learn how to fix droopy eyelids with exercises that can help reduce the appearance of droopy eyelids and improve your overall vision.

Droopy Eyelid Causes

There are several reasons why eyelids may start to droop or ptosis. Here are five common causes:

  1. Ageing: As we age, our skin loses elasticity, and gravity takes its toll, causing the eyelids to droop.
  2. Muscle weakness: The muscles that hold up the eyelids can become weak due to injury or overuse.
  3. Nerve damage: Any potential damage to the nerves that control the eyelid muscles can cause ptosis.
  4. Tumours: Both benign and malignant tumours can cause ptosis by pressing on the muscles or nerves of the eyelid.
  5. Glaucoma: Raised pressure within the eye can cause the eyelid to droop, as well as other eye problems.
  6. Myasthenia Gravis: This autoimmune disorder causes muscle weakness and can affect the eyelids.
  7. Third-Nerve Palsy: Damage to the third cranial nerve can cause ptosis.
  8. Paralytic Disease: Paralysis of the facial muscles can cause ptosis.
  9. Diabetes: Patients with diabetes may experience ptosis as a symptom of neuropathy.
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Droopy Eyelid Exercises

Basic Muscle Stimulation Exercise 

There is a simple muscle stimulation exercise that you can do to help lift your droopy eyelids and improve your appearance. This droopy eyelid exercise is called the "Elevate and Depress" and is very easy to do.

How it works:

  1. Start by sitting in a comfortable position with your head level.
  2. Place your index finger on the eyes, specifically on the outer corners of your eyes.
  3. Gently press your fingers into your skin and then lift your eyelids as far as they will go without straining. Hold this position for 5 seconds.
  4. Relax your eyelids and then repeat the process ten times.
  5. You can do this exercise as often as you like but try to do it at least once daily for the best results.

Benefits of "Elevate and Depress" exercise:

  1. Improve the appearance of droopy eyelids without surgery or expensive creams. 
  2. This kind of droopy eyelid exercise also helps to strengthen the muscles around your eyes, which can help prevent wrinkles.

Trataka-Yogic Exercises 

Specific yogic droopy eyelid exercises can help improve the ptosis condition. Trataka is an ancient yoga practice that involves staring at a single point without blinking. It helps to increase concentration and focus while also strengthening the eye muscles.

How to do trataka for droopy eyelids:

  1. Choose a small object to focus on, such as a candle flame or a dot on the wall.
  2. Sit in a comfortable position keeping your spine straight and your eyes open.
  3. Gaze steadily at the object without blinking for as long as you can.
  4. Repeat this exercise several times per day for the best results.

Benefits of trataka include:

  1. Improved vision 
  2. Increased concentration and focus
  3. Stronger eye muscles 

Resistance Workout For Droopy Eyelids

If you are looking for how to fix droopy eyelids instantly, then a resistance workout is the way. Here's how you can do it:

  1. Take your index fingers on the outer corners of your eyes and apply gentle pressure.
  2. Slowly open your eyes as wide as possible against the resistance of your fingers.
  3. Keep this position for at least five seconds and then release.
  4. Repeat this ten times.

Benefits of resistance workout:

  1. Tighten and tone the muscles around the eyes, thereby lifting the eyelids. 
  2. Enhances blood circulation in the area, reducing puffiness and dark circles.

Eye Patch Workout 

An eye patch workout is a great droopy eyelid exercise to improve the appearance of droopy eyelids, especially if you have ptosis. The following are the steps to do it.

  1. To start, find an eye patch that will fit snugly over your affected eye. Place the patch over your eye and secure it in place with tape or an elastic band.
  2. Next, gently close your eye underneath the patch and hold for a count of five.
  3. Relax and repeat the process several times throughout the day. You should see a noticeable difference in the appearance of your droopy eyelid within a few weeks.

The benefits of this ptosis exercises include the following:

  1. Improved muscle tone in the affected area.
  2. Reduced appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
  3. An overall lifted look to the eyelid.

Diagonal Stretch Exercise

Diagonal stretch exercise is one of the droopy eyelid exercises that can help improve the ptosis condition.

To do the diagonal stretch:

  1. Start by sitting or standing up straight.
  2. Gently pull your lower eyelid down and to the side with your index finger.
  3. Next, use your other hand to apply pressure on the outside corner of your eye (near your temple).
  4. Hold for 5-10 seconds and then release. Repeat this process ten times for each eye.

The benefits of the diagonal stretch exercise include the following:

  1. Helping to strengthen the muscles around the eye.
  2. Improving circulation in the area.
  3. Helping to prevent further drooping of the eyelid.

Lion's Breath Exercise

Lion's breath is among the powerful droopy eyelid exercises that can help to improve droopy eyelids. 

To do this exercise:

  1. Start by sitting in a comfortable position and relaxing your eyes.
  2. Close your eyes gently and take a few deep breaths.
  3. As you inhale, open your mouth wide as if you were roaring like a lion and stretch out the corners of your lips towards both ears.
  4. Hold for five seconds before exhaling slowly through the nose with your mouth stretched outward.
  5. Repeat 10 times or until the desired effect is achieved.

The lion's breath exercise benefits include:

  1. Improved blood circulation
  2. Increased energy levels
  3. Reduced stress and anxiety 
  4. Toning of facial muscles around the eyes

Rapid Lids Exercise 

Rapid lids exercise is an effective droopy eyelid exercise that can help improve ptosis. This exercise is performed by quickly moving the eyes from side to side. 

  1. To do this droopy eyelid exercise:
  2. Start by looking straight ahead with your eyes open.
  3. Using your two fingers, gently press each temple.
  4. Rapidly close and open both eyes as quickly as possible without straining them.
  5. Repeat this ten times.

The benefits of the Rapid Lids exercise include the following:

  1. Improved appearance of droopy eyelids
  2. Increased strength and tone in the muscles around the eyelids
  3. Improved vision quality

Binocular Blinking Exercise

The Binocular Blinking Exercise is a great way to improve the appearance of droopy eyelids. 

To do this droopy eyelid exercise:

  1. Start by looking straight ahead with both eyes open. 
  2. Blink your left eye for three seconds and then close it while keeping your right eye open. 
  3. Do the same with your right eye and alternate between sides for 30 seconds. 

Benefits of binocular blinking:

  1. This will help relax the muscles around the eyes. 
  2. Stimulate blood flow to areas causing droopiness in the upper lid area. 

Note: It's important to keep blinking throughout this exercise so that you don't strain your eyes or cause further damage due to overstimulation of one particular area of vision. With regular practice, you should see an improvement in just a few weeks!

Safety considerations while performing Droopy eyelid exercises

Safety considerations when performing droopy eyelid exercises are of utmost importance. It is important to remember that these exercises can be dangerous if not done properly, as they involve gently stretching the muscles around the eyes and forehead. Therefore, it is important to follow these safety tips: 

  1. Before beginning any exercise program, consult with your doctor or ophthalmologist first. They will be able to advise you on what types of exercise are safe for you and which ones should be avoided due to any potential risks. 
  2. Make sure that you have a comfortable workspace with good lighting and no distractions so that you can focus on the movements without strain or discomfort. 
  3. Begin slowly by focusing on contracting and relaxing each muscle group individually before moving on to more complex sequences of movements. This will help build strength in each muscle group while avoiding injury from over-exertion or fatigue too quickly.  
  4. When doing eye stretches, make sure not to pull too hard; use gentle motions throughout the exercise routine to avoid straining your eye muscles beyond their limits.
  5. Avoid doing excessive repetitions in one session, as this could lead to muscle fatigue or overexertion, causing further harm rather than a benefit.    
  6. If at any time during the exercises there is pain felt, stop immediately and seek medical advice from an expert such as an optometrist before resuming again.
  7. After completing a session, take some time to rest, either lying down with your eyes closed or taking a short walk outside in natural sunlight (if possible). This will help relax tired muscles while increasing blood flow aiding recovery time.  
  8. Finally, ensure regular breaks between sessions so as not to allow the buildup of excess lactic acid within the body, potentially leading to cramps.

Lifestyle Changes for Ptosis

Ptosis is a condition that affects the eyelids, causing them to droop. Making lifestyle changes can be an important part of managing ptosis and improving your overall health and well-being.

  1. Identify the source of your droopy eyelids: There can be many reasons, such as ageing, allergies, genetics, or physical trauma. It is vital to identify the source of your eyelid condition to determine the best treatment plan.
  2. Get plenty of rest: Lack of sleep can cause your eyes to become tired and weak, resulting in droopy eyelids. Make sure you get enough sleep every night and establish a healthy sleep routine for the best results.
  3. Exercise frequently: Regular droopy eyelid exercises help stimulate circulation throughout the body - including the area around your eyes. This can help strengthen eye muscles that may have weakened due to lack of activity or age-related conditions.
  4. Eat right: Eating a healthy diet rich in lean proteins, fresh fruits, and vegetables can help reduce inflammation throughout the body - including around your eyes - which can help reduce droopiness.
  5. Use eye creams: Eye creams are specifically designed to target signs of ageing around the eyes, including droopy eyelids. Look for an eye cream with ingredients that stimulate collagen production and reduce puffiness or wrinkles around the eyes for the best results.

When To See A Doctor For Droopy Eyelids?

If you are concerned that a more serious underlying condition is the cause of your droopy eyelid, you should consult a doctor. In some cases, droopy eyelids can be caused by a neurological condition or another health problem. 

You should also consult a doctor if experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  1. Heaviness in the eyebrows
  2. Difficulty opening the eyes fully
  3. Inability to keep the eyes open for long periods. 
  4. Vision problems
  5. Excessive tear production from the affected eye
  6. Redness in the eye

Takeaway

Ptosis can be an annoying issue, but with the right droopy eyelid exercises and consistent practice, you can fix it without surgery. We have provided simple steps to help you tone your eye muscles and reduce the appearance of droopiness. The above-mentioned ptosis exercises can help you improve your condition. If not, then consult with an ophthalmologist.

If you are looking for treatment for ptosis, the experts at HexaHealth can help you find the right specialist to provide care. Our team is highly trained and knowledgeable in providing all the necessary information regarding droopy eyelids. We understand that making an informed decision about treatment can be difficult, so we want to ensure our clients are well informed about their condition and potential treatments. With HexaHealth's assistance, you can confidently choose a doctor who is best equipped to handle your particular case.

Suggested Reads:

  1. Ptosis Surgery
  2. Ptosis in Hindi
  3. Ptosis in Hindi
  4. Droopy Eyelids

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you correct ptosis without surgery?

Yes, it is possible to correct ptosis without surgery in some cases. Nonsurgical treatment options for mild ptosis may include:

  1. Using eye drops or medications.
  2. Wearing eyeglasses with prisms.
  3. Using special droopy eyelid exercises to strengthen the muscles around the eyelids.

What are facial exercises for droopy eyelids?

Facial droopy eyelids exercises involve strengthening the muscles of your upper and lower eyelids. These exercises typically involve repetitive movements such as blinking, lifting your eyebrows, and gently stretching out the skin around your eyes. 

How to get rid of droopy eyelids?

Non-invasive treatments include:

  1. Using eye creams with retinol and vitamin C.
  2. Applying cool compresses to the eyes.
  3. Doing regular eye exercises.

Some people may also opt for injectable dermal fillers or Botox injections which can help lift the skin around the eyes.

How long does it take for ptosis to heal?

It can take a few weeks to several months for ptosis to heal, depending on the severity of the condition and how well it responds to treatment. If nonsurgical treatments are not successful, surgery may be necessary, which could take longer to heal.

Can you get ptosis overnight?

No, you cannot get ptosis overnight. Ptosis is a condition that causes drooping of the eyelid and can be caused by many different things, such as aging or neurological conditions. It usually develops slowly over time and may take weeks or months to develop fully.

How do you do the Bates method?

The Bates Method is a set of eye exercises designed to improve vision. It involves focusing on objects from different distances, looking away from the object and then back again, and shifting your gaze up and down or left and right while keeping an object in focus. 

How long does it take for the Bates Method to work?

The Bates Method is an exercise-based program designed to improve vision and reduce the need for glasses or contacts. It can take a few days to several months to see improvement, depending on the individual's dedication and commitment to doing exercises regularly. 

Is palming good for the eyes?

Yes, palming is a good way to help relax your eyes and reduce eye strain. It involves using the palms of both hands to cover the eyes to block out light and other distractions. Doing this for 5-10 minutes can help reduce fatigue and improve vision.

Do you close your eyes when palming?

Yes, it is important to close your eyes when palming. Palming is a relaxation technique that involves placing the palms of your hands over your closed eyes for several minutes. Closing your eyes helps you to relax and block out external stimuli, allowing for more effective stress relief and better visualization of creative ideas or solutions.

Do eyelid lifting creams work?

Some products contain ingredients that have been clinically proven to reduce wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness around the eyes, while others may not be as effective. If you're looking for visible results from an eyelid lifting cream, it is important to research and select one with active ingredients that have been scientifically tested and proven to work.

How do you massage sagging eyelids?

To massage sagging eyelids, gently press your fingertips around your eyes' corners and then move up towards the brow bone. Use gentle circular motions to massage the area for a few minutes. 

How can I restore the elasticity of my eyelids?

The best way to restore the elasticity of your eyelids is to use a gentle eye cream that contains ingredients like vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and peptides. This help to nourish and hydrate the skin around your eyes while also boosting collagen production. 

Can floppy eyelids be cured?

Depending on the condition's cause (which could range from age-related changes to neurological conditions), treatment options may vary but typically involve surgery to tighten or reposition the affected eyelid muscles and/or tissue. A doctor will need to evaluate an individual's unique case in order to recommend a course of action.

Updated on : 10 January 2023

Reviewer

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES

12 Years Experience

Dr Aman Priya Khanna is a well-known General Surgeon, Proctologist and Bariatric Surgeon currently associated with HealthFort Clinic, Health First Multispecialty Clinic in Delhi. He has 12 years of experience in General Surgery and worke...View More

Author

Nikita Tyagi

Nikita Tyagi

BPharm (Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University, Hyderabad)

2 Years Experience

An enthusiastic writer with an eye for details and medical correctness. An avid reviewer and publisher. She emphasises authentic information and creates value for the readers. Earlier, she was involved in making ...View More

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