Have you been diagnosed with both floppy eyelid syndrome and sleep apnea? It may be surprising, but the two conditions are often connected. In fact, studies have found that between 34 percent and 53 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also have floppy eyelid syndrome.

If you’ve been diagnosed with both of these conditions, you’re in the right place. We’ll talk about what floppy eyelid syndrome is, how it’s connected to obstructive sleep apnea, and what kind of care you might need for your eyelids.

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How Are Floppy Eyelid Syndrome and Sleep Apnea Connected?

Research has shown that floppy eyelid syndrome may be more common in people with obstructive sleep apnea than in those without it. Also, the more severe a person’s sleep apnea is, the more likely they are to be diagnosed with floppy eyelid syndrome.

Researchers don’t know exactly how these conditions are connected. However, some shared risk factors and theories suggest how sleep apnea could affect the eyelids.

What Floppy Eyelid Syndrome and Sleep Apnea Have in Common

Floppy eyelid syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea share a few risk factors. If any of these are true for you, then you’re more likely than those without them to develop both conditions.

Having all of these doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll develop either diagnosis. According to Cleveland Clinic, risk factors for both floppy eyelid syndrome and sleep apnea include being male and being diagnosed with obesity.

Both floppy eyelid syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea may run in families. This suggests that genes passed down from parents may play a role in both conditions. However, researchers don’t yet know whether the conditions share genetic connections or if the genes connected to each one are separate.

Some things are linked to a higher chance of floppy eyelid syndrome but not sleep apnea. These include:

• Certain connective tissue disorders, like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Other disorders that can affect the eyes
• Race

You may not develop floppy eyelid syndrome even if all of these describe you. They only mean you have a higher risk of developing it at some point in your life.

How Sleep Apnea May Affect the Eyelids

Experts don’t know exactly how sleep apnea and floppy eyelid syndrome are connected, but they have a few ideas. Here are some possible explanations.

Some believe that low oxygen levels connected to OSA lead to floppy eyelid syndrome. Elastin is a protein that stretches, then returns to its original shape, like a rubber band. When you don’t have enough oxygen, your body breaks down elastin more easily, and some researchers believe this leads to floppy eyelid syndrome.

Other experts suggest that chronic, low-grade inflammation, caused by sleep apnea, degrades elastin in the body. This could also lead to floppy eyelids, especially if the body doesn’t have enough elastin over an extended time.

When To See a Doctor for Floppy Eyelid Syndrome

If you’re experiencing persistent cases of any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s time to get your eyes checked. If you also live with obstructive sleep apnea, it’s even more important to see an ophthalmologist soon.

Floppy eyelid syndrome can lead to eye complications and even vision loss, so you’ll want to get it diagnosed and have a treatment plan in place as soon as possible. You should be evaluated for sleep apnea if floppy eyelid syndrome is diagnosed.

Treatments for Floppy Eyelid Syndrome

There are several treatment options for floppy eyelid syndrome. The one your eye doctor suggests will likely depend on the severity of your symptoms and your level of risk for eye complications.

The first set of treatments is usually fairly conservative. They’re aimed at finding ways to prevent the symptoms of floppy eyelid syndrome so you don’t experience discomfort or complications. You may need to:

• Wear a special shield over your eyes when you sleep.
• Use lubricating eye drops or ointments before you go to bed.
• Tape your eyes shut whenever you sleep.

If your healthcare provider thinks that your sleep position may be part of the problem, they might have you change that, too. If you aren’t diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor might also suggest a sleep study to test for that and other sleep disorders.

In some cases, your doctor may suggest eyelid surgery to correct floppy eyelid syndrome. They usually only do this when your eyelids are severely floppy or when there’s a high risk of long-term eye damage.

There are a few surgical procedures your doctors can choose from. They’ll let you know which one they suggest for you and why.

How Treating Sleep Apnea May Help Your Eyelids

If you’ve been diagnosed with both conditions, treating obstructive sleep apnea may also help your eyelids.

If you have a positive airway pressure machine, like a CPAP or a BiPAP, then using it regularly may help reverse floppy eyelid syndrome. It can help your body make and use elastin properly.

This isn’t guaranteed to help with your eyelids, but it may, and you should use your machine regularly anyway, since living with untreated OSA can be dangerous on its own, too.