4 Eyelid Sagging Exercises to Get Bigger-Looking, More Youthful Eyes

Your eyelids are part of a ring of muscle, or the orbicularis oculi, which encircles your eye. This muscle allows you to open and close your eyes. Your eyelids may start to droop due to various factors, which include aging, long-term lifestyle habits and heredity. Exercises can help to tone your eyelids, making your eyes appear larger and more youthful.

Read more: How to Tighten Loose Skin on the Eyelids

Droopy eyelids can be a normal part of the aging process, but can also be caused by medical conditions. The medical term ptosis describes drooping of any area of the body. This condition can be a side effect of diabetes, glaucoma, nerve injury, eye injury, autoimmune conditions and other neurological diseases, according to Healthline.

Age-related eyelid drooping often affects both eyes, while neurological conditions can affect one or both eyes. These conditions typically also have other symptoms such as blurred or double vision, weakness in the arms or legs, and difficulty speaking, according to Harvard Health Publishing. See your doctor for a diagnosis if you have droopy eyelids.

Read more: The Best Eyelid Creams

Eyelid ptosis exercises can help reduce drooping. Exercises in which you squint with your lower eyelids can help to decrease the hollows and puffiness beneath your eyes. For example, begin by sitting erect or lying supine. While putting your index fingers at the outer corners of your eyes, place your middle fingers on the inner corners of your eyes.

As you apply gentle pressure with these fingers, direct your gaze to the ceiling and squint strongly with only your lower eyelids. Keep your upper eyelids wide open. Release the squint and then repeat the exercise 10 times.

To strengthen your upper eyelids, begin by looking directly at your face in a mirror. Place your index fingers just under your eyebrows, keeping your fingers slightly curved. Hold your eyebrows against the ridge of bone above your eyes. Close your eyelids, stretching your upper lids down.

Repeat this subtle movement five times and then squeeze your eyes shut for a count of six. Relax the contracted position of your eyelids on a count of three and then open your eyes. Perform the exercise two times daily, five days per week.

You can perform an exercise that strengthens both the muscles in the forehead and eyelids and requires the coordination of movements between your eyebrows and eyelids.

Begin by lifting your eyebrows and then close your eyes. While your eyebrows are lifted, close your eyes. Lower your eyebrows to finish one rep. Perform one set of 10 reps. When you close your eyelids, avoid squeezing or contorting your face. Focus on raising the outer part of each eyebrow.

In the same way that a smile lifts the muscles around your lips, you can gently lift your eyelids. Begin by placing your forefingers at the outer corners of your eyes. Slowly and gently press your lower eyelids upward.

The skin on the sides of and beneath your eyes will be raised up toward your nose. Hold the lifted position for at least six seconds and then release to return to starting position.