Ptosis Prevention: Understanding and Preventing Acquired Ptosis

Are you worried about ptosis, commonly known as droopy eyelid? Acquired ptosis affects many, especially as they age. This guide can help you understand the causes and symptoms of acquired ptosis.

Understanding Acquired Ptosis

Unlike congenital ptosis, which individuals are born with, acquired ptosis can develop due to various factors such as aging, trauma, or certain medical conditions. The most common cause is age-related changes, where the muscles responsible for lifting the eyelid (levator palpebrae superioris) weaken or stretch.

Steps for Overall Eye Health

While it may not be possible to prevent the onset of ptosis, especially when it stems from aging or genetics, monitoring your eyelid health and noting changes in your eyelids can be one important step in overall eye health.

Maintain Optimal Eye Health: Regular visits to an eye care provider are crucial. Early detection of any potential eye conditions can allow timely treatment and may prevent complications.
Protect Your Eyes: Use protective eyewear during activities that could lead to eye injuries.
Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes: Constant eye rubbing can weaken and stretch the levator muscles and potentially damage surrounding structures that might lead to ptosis.
Wear Sunglasses: Always wear sunglasses with adequate UV protection.
Lead a Healthy Lifestyle: General health affects eye health. Eating a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients supports muscle and nerve function. If you smoke, consider quitting as smoking accelerates aging and weakens the tissues around your eyes.
Manage Chronic Conditions: Diseases like diabetes or hypertension can lead to eye health issues. Managing these conditions effectively can reduce your risk.

Recognizing Early Signs of Ptosis

Identifying the early symptoms of ptosis can facilitate timely intervention, which may prevent further eyelid drooping or enable more effective treatment. Talk to your doctor if you notice changes in your eyelids, which may be a sign of acquired ptosis.

Watch for:

Difficulty keeping the eyelids open
Increased effort needed to raise the eyelids
Frequent head tilting to see under the eyelid
Eyelid fatigue, particularly in the evenings
Changes in facial appearance or eye symmetry

If you notice any sudden changes in your eyelid position, seek immediate medical attention as this could be a sign of a more serious neurological or orbital condition.

Be Proactive About Your Eyelid Health

Proactive eye care and healthy lifestyle choices can significantly impact your eyelid health. If you start noticing signs of ptosis, schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional for an assessment and discussion of potential treatment options, including prescription eye drops such as UPNEEQ ® (oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution), 0.1%. Stay informed and proactive about your eye health to help keep your vision clear and your eyelids healthy.

Get started with Upneeq

Upneeq is the only FDA-approved, prescription eye drop that lifts low-lying eyelids (acquired ptosis). Find out if Upneeq’s eye-opening benefits are right for you.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is UPNEEQ?

UPNEEQ® (oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution), 0.1% is a prescription eyedrop used to treat acquired blepharoptosis (low-lying lids) in adults.

What warnings and precautions are associated with UPNEEQ?

Low-lying lids may be related to conditions such as stroke and/or brain aneurysm, Horner syndrome, myasthenia gravis, loss of the ability to move eye muscles, eye infection and eye tumors. Tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions.
UPNEEQ is a type of medication that may affect your blood pressure. If you have heart disease, uncontrolled high or low blood pressure, or feel faint at rest or when quickly standing up, you should call your doctor if your symptoms get worse.
Patients with reduced blood flow to the brain or heart, or patients who experience eye or mouth dryness due to an immune system disorder (Sjögren’s syndrome), should use care when taking UPNEEQ. Call your doctor immediately if you feel your symptoms may be getting worse.
UPNEEQ may increase the risk of eye pressure due to fluid buildup (angle-closure glaucoma) in patients with untreated narrow-angle glaucoma. Call your doctor immediately if you feel increased pressure in your eye after using UPNEEQ.
Do not let the tip of the UPNEEQ vial touch your eye or any other surface. This can help prevent eye injury or contamination. Each UPNEEQ vial is for one-time use and should be discarded after being used.

What are the most common side effects of UPNEEQ?

The most common adverse reactions with UPNEEQ (occurring in 1-5% of patients) were eye inflammation, eye redness, dry eye, blurred vision, eye pain at time of use, eye irritation, and headache.

What should my doctor know about before prescribing me UPNEEQ?

Your doctor should review your full medical history before prescribing UPNEEQ.
UPNEEQ belongs to a class of medication (alpha-adrenergic agonists) that may affect your blood pressure. Use UPNEEQ carefully if you currently take an alpha-adrenergic agonist medication to treat heart disease or an enlarged prostate. Patients taking beta-blockers, or other medications to treat hypertension or an abnormal heartbeat, should also be careful when using UPNEEQ.
Patients who use a certain class of antidepressant medication (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) should also be careful when using UPNEEQ, as it may affect the way your body absorbs the medication.

These are not all of the possible side effects of UPNEEQ. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
To report side effects or product complaints, contact RVL Pharmaceuticals at 1-877-482-3788. You may also report side effects to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit www.fda.gov/medwatch.
This is a summary of the most important safety information for UPNEEQ. For more in-depth safety information, please review the full Prescribing Information for UPNEEQ.