Xanthelasma
Hooded or droopy upper eyelids
As you get older, it's quite common to have excess skin above the upper eyelids that can overhang and block your vision. This is called dermatochalasis. If it affects your vision, surgery may be considered to remove the excess skin ( blepharoplasty ).
However, this operation isnt routinely funded on the NHS so your doctor would need to submit a funding request for this to be considered.
If the edge of your upper lid droops down over your eye, it's called ptosis. This is usually age-related and develops slowly. Surgery may be neededif the edge of the lid droops so muchyour vision is affected.
In rare cases, ptosis isn't related to age and may be caused by serious conditions such as myasthenia gravis or a brain tumour . Inthese cases, it's likely there would be other symptoms too.
See your GP immediately if ptosis comes on rapidly, overdays or weeks, or if it's associated with other symptoms, such asa headache , loss of vision or a change in the size of the pupil (the black dot at the centre of the eye).
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about some of the main causes of eyelid problems, including cysts, styes, blepharitis, dry eyes, ptosis, ectropion and entropion.
Swollen eyelid or eyelid cyst
It's quite common for the upper or lower eyelid to become swollen because of a meibomian cyst (also called a chalazion). This occurs when the glands in the eyelid become blocked. Thesecysts vary in
Hooded or droopy upper eyelids
As you get older, it's quite common to have excess skin above the upper eyelids that can overhang and block your vision. This is called dermatochalasis. If it affects your vision, surgery may be consi
Lower eyelid that rolls outwards (ectropion)
As you get older, one or both lower eyelids can sometimes droop away from the eye and turn outwards. This is known as an ectropion . The drooping eyelid can disrupt the normal production of tears,
Yellow plaques on the eyelids
Flat yellow patches (plaques) over the upper or lower eyelids are called xanthelasma. Although these plaques are harmless, they indicate you have high cholesterol . See your GP because you may be a
Excessive blinking or uncontrollable closure of the eyelids
It's quite common and normal for the eyelid to flicker or twitch occasionally, particularly when you're tired. It's moreunusual tohave repeated spasms of excessive blinking and involuntary closure of
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