Drooping Eyelid - Post-cataract Removal? (photo)

The high eyelid crease (distance from the eyelid margin to the upper eyelid crease) suggests a loosening of the muscle that elevates the eyelid (levator).  This is a common age-related occurrence, but trauma, including surgery, could accelerate the process.  This is easily repairable by an ophthalmologist or plastic surgeon, but may or may not be covered by your insurance.  

Thank you for the photo - I can see a marked asymmetry which must be quite troubling for you. This is indeed an infrequent event after cataract surgery however it is important to see a specialist to rule out other sinister causes such as myasthenia gravis, a third cranial nerve palsy or a Horner's syndrome.
Ideally see an oculoplastic specialist who can then talk you through the surgical options as well if there is nothing otherwise underlying.

I would agree with the others but would add lingering mild inflammation after surgery as a cause. Have your surgeon check and if no iritis or surface irritation.

Dear CaroleAnn.............thank you for your question. If indeed your cataract surgery was performed with an anesthetic "block" or injection, in which case you would have gone home immediately after surgery with a patch, then there may be a correlation to your surgery from the anesthetic injection causing weakening of the upper eyelid muscle known as the levator muscle. If, however, you went home without a patch because you had "topical anesthesia", then there would be no correlation with your cataract surgery. 
The eyelid drooping that you are noticing in your right upper eyelid is due to weakening of the levator muscle. Most commonly this gradually occurs due to aging, although there are other less common associated causes. The good news is that the eyelid muscle can undergo a "muscle-tightening" outpatient surgical procedure to bring up the lid once again. I would recommend seeing an ophthalmologist who has experience performing this type of procedure.

Good luck!

Emilio M. Justo, M.D., Founder & Medical Director

A drooping eyelid is an increasingly uncommon occurrence after cataract surgery, but it can still happen. The cause is, either damage to the muscle that supports the eyelid(this occurs when a suture is used to hold the eye steady during surgery.....very uncommon now) or occasionally the steroid drops used after surgery can cause a relaxation of this same muscle. The eyelid drooping as a result of steroid use typically resolves once the eyedrop is stopped. In either case, if your eyelid remains drooped like this, it can be repaired by a surgeon who specializes in this type of surgery. The repair of cataracts and the repair of eyelid droop(also called ptosis) are both very routine procedures.

It is known that a droopy eyelid can occur after ocular surgery (cataract, glaucoma, retina). This is known as ptosis.  The muscle that helps to elevate the eye becomes weakened.  This is considered to be a consequence of surgery not a complication of surgery.  It can be repaired by a commonly performed ptosis repair procedure.  If it is affecting your vision, testing can be done to confirm it (field of vision test).  The procedure is generally performed by an Oculoplastic surgeon-an Ophthalmologist with advance training in performing procedures on the eyelids and surrounding facial structures.  Insurance generally covers this procedure if they have supporting evidence (photos, field of vision results and clinical notes) that it is adversely affecting your vision.  I hope this review helps you and others in this situation.