Diagnosing Ptosis: What to Expect When You Visit Your Doctor

Understanding the steps involved in diagnosing ptosis can demystify the process and help you prepare for your doctor's visit. If you suspect you have acquired ptosis, don’t hesitate to consult with your doctor to learn more and discuss the best treatment options tailored to your condition.

The Diagnostic Process: What to Expect

Initial Consultation

Your journey to a ptosis diagnosis starts with a comprehensive consultation. Your doctor will ask about your medical history, focusing on when the drooping began, whether it has progressed, and if you’ve experienced any associated symptoms like difficulty seeing or frequent headaches. This discussion helps to rule out other conditions that might mimic ptosis, such as neurological disorders or orbital or muscle diseases.

Physical Examination

After discussing your history, your doctor may conduct a thorough examination of your eyes. They may measure the height of your eyelid when your eyes are open and compare it to standard values. This measurement helps to confirm the presence and severity of ptosis. Your doctor may also test your eyelid strength and check for any asymmetry in how your eyelids open and close.

Specialized Tests

Though not always necessary, several tests can support the diagnosis of ptosis:

Phenylephrine Test: This involves placing eye drops in the affected eye to see if it improves the eyelid’s position. If there’s significant improvement, it can indicate that the muscles or nerves on the eyelid's surface are involved, which can guide potential treatment options.
Visual Field Testing: Ptosis can affect your peripheral vision. During this test, you’ll be asked to look straight ahead while identifying lights or movements in your peripheral vision. This helps assess the extent to which ptosis is impacting your ability to see.
Slit-Lamp Examination: This microscope examines your eye in detail, allowing the doctor to see if there are any other issues contributing to the eyelid drooping, such as swelling or changes in the eye’s surface.

Imaging

In some cases, your doctor might recommend imaging studies, like an MRI or CT scan, especially if they suspect that an underlying condition such as a tumor or nerve damage is causing the ptosis. These scans help provide a clearer picture of the internal structures of your eyelid and eye.

Preparing for Your Appointment

To make the most of your visit, consider keeping a record of your symptoms and noting any changes in your vision or eyelid appearance. Also, list all medications you're currently taking and any previous eye conditions or surgeries.

With the right approach, diagnosing ptosis can be a straightforward part of maintaining your eye health and ensuring your vision remains as clear and unobstructed as possible.

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.