Explained: Ptosis or droopy eyelid, which Zeenat Aman suffers from

Bollywood’s yesteryear sensation Zeenat Aman recently shared a detailed social media post on how she finally handled the "elephant in the room" — an eye condition called ptosis — that was caused by a physical injury she had suffered many years ago. She went on to elaborate that the injury, (which was allegedly caused by her then husband, Sanjay Khan, during a brawl in a hotel room), had damaged the muscles around her right eye. With time, the eyelid began to droop further and it began to obstruct her vision.

After 40 years of living with it, the actor decided to show the elephant in her room "the door". A leading ophthalmologist in April told her there are advanced treatments available today for this particular condition. Also, there were ostensibly no treatments available for her to correct the problem all this time. So, she went ahead with the surgery, which in her words, involved lifting her eyelid to help her to see better.

After undergoing the operation in Mumbai, Zeenat, 71, said her recovery was slow but steady and was continuing.“I’m happy to share that my vision is so much clearer now," she said.

So, what is ptosis, how can it affect a person, what are the challenges it poses and how can it be treated? 

What is ptosis?

Ptosis, or droopy eyelid, is a medical condition in which your eyelids droops, sags or falls over your eye. It is not painful but it can block your sight and one may have to tip their head back to see better.

What are the causes?

You can get ptosis as an adult when the nerves that control your eyelid muscles are damaged or weakened. It may happen due to an injury like in Zeenat Aman's case. Or, it can be due to a disease that weakens the muscles and ligaments that raise your eyelids.

What problems can it cause?

Your vision is obstructed, there is eye strain, and potential amblyopia (lazy eye) if not treated promptly. According to medical experts, ptosis can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition or nerve disorder. Ptosis can cause problems when you drive, read, or even walk up and down stairs.

How can it be treated?

The ptosis treatment may depend on how well your eyelid muscles are functioning. If the condition doesn’t affect your vision and the appearance doesn’t bother the person, you may not need treatment at all. But if one eyelid droops to the extent that it impairs your vision or if you have double vision or pain, a surgery is suggested.

If a person's vision is getting affected then the person may be recommended to have a surgery. In newborns, severe ptosis may require urgent surgical intervention to prevent irreversible amblyopia (lazy eye).

Ptosis surgery is performed under local anaesthesia with sedation. Most surgeries to correct ptosis is usually successful. 

If ptosis causes a problem with vision, appearance or both, your eye care specialist may recommend treatment. The type of treatment depends on whether the ptosis is caused by a disease or by aging. Treating ptosis caused by aging usually involves surgery.