What Are the Causes of a Droopy Eye?

Droopy eyes can make a person appear tired or sick. Sometimes a person actually is tired or sick, but droopy eyes also can have nothing to do with a person's exhaustion level or health. Droopy eyes can come from a number of other causes, conditions and diseases that involve a loss of control over the muscles responsible for proper eyelid function. Although not normally dangerous, droopy eyes can interfere with vision and affect how a person lives his life, requiring medical consultation, treatment and perhaps even surgical intervention.

Congenital Ptosis

• Sometimes children are born with droopy eyelids. This condition, called congenital ptosis, develops when the muscles responsible for controlling the eyelids have not grown properly. This condition might require surgical intervention to correct it, so that as the child grows he can see properly.

Muscle Diseases

• Certain muscular diseases such as myasthenia gravis weaken the muscles responsible for proper eyelid control. The weakening of these muscles is the result of an autoimmune disorder that prevents the nerves connected to the muscles from properly transmitting the directives to open, close or blink the eyelid as directed by the brain.

Nervous System Injuries

• The Beauty Brains website says that injuries caused to the nervous system, such as a stroke, an aneurysm or even a brain tumor, can prevent the nerves from properly transmitting the brain's directives to the muscles that control the eyelids, resulting in a droopy eyelid appearance.

Eye-Specific Problems

• Eye injuries, medical conditions affecting the eyes and even cancerous tumors inside the eye can cause the ptosis condition, as well. The ptosis condition is commonly known as the droopy-eye syndrome.

Migraine Headaches

• Migraine headaches also can cause ptosis, or droopy eyes. Migraines are common, with the MedlinePlus website estimating that 11 out of 100 people get them. Droopy eyes might be part of other symptoms that present themselves before a migraine gets triggered in someone. The triggers that set off a migraine headache range from alcohol consumption to smoke inhalation. If the migraine or your droopy eyes are interfering with your vision or lifestyle, consult your doctor.

Aging

• Normal aging can cause eyelid drooping. As people get older, the muscles that control the eyelids start sagging and the eyelids start to "droop." This is normal in older people, but if it begins negatively affecting your vision or lifestyle you should contact a doctor. This kind of droopy eye syndrome is known as aponeurotic ptosis, and it also is caused by certain forms of eye trauma.