When 41 years old, Tanya Morovati, anesthesiologist and mother of two from Santa Barbara, California, took her daughter for a regular eye exam, she mentioned to the ophthalmologist that they were on their way to take a family photo. “Are you telling me I look tired?” she asked. She placed Upneeq drops, a recently approved FDA treatment for acquired upper eyelid ptosis (which can occur with age), in each eye. “It’s great,” Morovati says of the results.
Silverberg was inspired to create Upneeq by his mother, whose sleepy eyelids “bothered her not only aesthetically but also functionally,” he says. In fact, about 11.5% of adults over 50 have acquired ptosis, which can compromise your field of vision. Silverberg says “tired eyes” are one of the most common complaints he hears in his office. He wanted to develop a comfortable, safe and effective formula that would lift the upper eyelid without side effects like dilation of the pupil. Upneeq does all of this, thanks to a key ingredient, oxymetazoline – the same drug in the original Visine formula and still present in the Afrin nasal spray – which contracts the small Müllerian muscle on the back of the eyelid to lift it, actually widening an open eye. It also constricts the blood vessels so that the whites of the eyes appear whiter.
If your eye doctor thinks you are a good fit, Upneeq will set you back $105 for a one month supply and $225 for a three month supply. Some people apply it daily instead of surgery to increase their field of vision; others use it off-label for a wider look on special occasions like a date night, an important Zoom meeting, or a photoshoot. According to Upneeq creator Osmotica, the difference can be seen in five minutes and lasts all day.
Some doctors are reluctant to suggest daily use to their patients. Although not seen in 12 week trials, a rebound effect is possible with this type of drug. Experts say some patients may experience increased eye redness after prolonged use and / or stopping. New York City plastic surgeon Haideh Hirmand, MD, who doesn’t advice using drops for cosmetic purposes only, adds, “Patients consider that a droopy eyelid is caused by the skin of the drooping eyelid. It’s not.” Even though she says Upneeq can be used for mild ptosis or sleepy eyes, she wants people to be aware of possible side effects including blurred vision, dryness, keratitis and redness. (One more warning: a droopy eyelid that appears suddenly could also be a symptom of a more serious neurological disorder, so let your doctor know if it does.) For the right candidate, however, occasional use is a literal word.
