Do I Have Floppy Eyelid Syndrome?

Do you have nonspecific, long-term eye irritation and burning in one or both eyes?

Do you have a thick, mucoid discharge from the eye, which is usually the worst in the morning?

Do you have dryness, redness, or tearing of the eyes?

Do you have increased light sensitivity (photosensitivity)?

Do you have an eyelid swelling?

Do you have visual distortions like ghosting, multiple images, glare, halos, or blurred vision?

Do you have an eyelash ptosis (eyelashes that point out from the eye horizontally or downward)?

Do you have morning headaches?

Are your symptoms usually worse after waking up in the morning and does the affected side (if only one eye is affected) seem to match the one you usually sleep on?

Do you have any of the following conditions: obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, heart disease, skin and collagen pathologies, corneal and eyelids abnormalities and glaucoma?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have floppy eyelid syndrome. Floppy eyelid syndrome is an eye condition characterized by loose eyelids that can be easily turned outward during sleep and other activities. It usually affects the upper eyelids, and can occur on either one or both of the eyelids. People with this condition often wake up with dry and irritated eyes that get better during the day. However, the condition itself is often under-diagnosed. Floppy eyelid syndrome is most common in overweight, middle-aged men. It is often associated with other diseases such as obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and hypertension.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have floppy eyelid syndrome (FES). Floppy eyelid syndrome is an eye disorder that refers to floppy, rubbery, and easily everted upper eyelids. A person with FES usually has redness and dryness of the eyes, a foreign body sensation in the eyes, mucoid discharge from the eyes and swollen eyelids. These symptoms are worst in the morning after waking up. If symptoms appear in only one eye, it usually corresponds to the side on which you usually sleep. The exact cause of FES is not fully understood. A diagnosis is based on a physical examination.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have floppy eyelid syndrome (FES). Floppy eyelid syndrome is an eye disorder characterized by a significant eversion of the upper eyelid that can occur spontaneously during sleep, leaving the surface of the eye unprotected and exposed to frequent irritations. A person with FES has an abnormal degree of upper eyelid laxity along with the ptosis of the eyelashes (lashes pointing downwards). Floppy eye syndrome is not a serious disease, but over time it can compromise your vision. Treatment includes weight loss (in obese people), eye shields or taping your eyes during the night, topical lubricants and surgery.