Droopy eyelids, a condition known as ptosis, result when you have weakening in the muscles that lift and lower your lids. The drooping may affect one eye or both eyelids and may disrupt your visual field, depending on the severity. In such cases, an eyelid surgeon may recommend surgery to tighten and lift the lid so it will not interfere with your vision. Dietary changes such as following an anti-inflammatory diet do not bring a known benefit in the treatment of ptosis.
Cause
The levator muscles responsible for your eyelid position and blinking may weaken as a result of the natural aging process. In some cases, a child may have congenital ptosis, meaning the condition occurs prior to birth. Ptosis, in adults and children, may also result from conditions such as a stroke, brain tumor or multiple sclerosis.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Your doctor may recommend an anti-inflammatory diet if you have health conditions such as heart disease or cancer. An anti-inflammatory diet does not have a known connection to helping resolve or prevent eyelid drooping. However, in theory, choosing this type of diet could help prevent or reduce the effects of chronic inflammation that may lead to ptosis.
This diet severely restricts permissible foods, requiring elimination of meat as well as butter, vegetable oil and high-fat dairy products. You will also need to avoid processed foods, particularly high-fat products.
Dietary Choices
In the anti-inflammatory diet, you will focus on eating whole foods such as fruits, vegetables and lean protein such as fish. Whole grains such as brown rice are also a good component to this diet. Your doctor will recommend a certain amount of omega-3 each day, a nutrient that has anti-inflammatory properties. You can obtain it through such foods as salmon and walnuts. In many cases, doctors recommend a multivitamin to ensure that these dietary changes do not cause a deficiency in necessary nutrients. Ultimately, the goal of the anti-inflammatory diet is to reduce saturated fat intake while improving your intake of beneficial fats such as omega-3.
Considerations
If you notice you have a droopy eyelid, contact your doctor. A sudden change in your eyelid could indicate a serious condition such as a stroke; thus, you should contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency care.
You should not begin following a restrictive diet such as the anti-inflammatory diet without first consulting your doctor, since limiting foods and intake could have an impact on your overall health.
