Zeenat Aman, a 71-year-old veteran actress, recently shared a post on her Instagram handle and revealed that she has been battling with pstosis, or drooping eyelids, for four decades and now underwent surgery in Mumbai's Hinduja hospital. She says there has been an elephant in the room with me for the past 40 years. It is time to show this elephant the door. And also explains that her condition is because of the injury she suffered many decades ago that damaged muscles around her right eye. Over the years, it caused the eyelid to droop further and further. A few years ago, it became so acute that it began to obstruct her vision.
As an actress in well-known films such as Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qurbani, Don, and Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Ptosis impacted her career and confined opportunities. She said that an actor's career depends on appearance, but she never felt dwindled by her condition; a few stalwarts always stood up for her and chose to act with her.
The actress says that the treatments available at that time and for decades were not successful. Then this year, in April, a leading ophthalmologist informed me that surgery to lift the eyelid and fix the vision is possible as technological advances are happening in the field of medicine. I hesitated for a long time, underwent a battery of tests, and finally committed to the procedure. She also said, "Recovery has been slow, steady, and ongoing. But she is happy to share that her vision is so much clearer now,” in her post.
The veteran actress, before her surgery shot for the cover of Vogue India, shows how dedicated she is to her work. She shared her thoughts on many things on Instagram. She also shared the big screen in the 'Bun Tikki' movie directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, along with actress Shabana Azmi.
What is ptosis?
The drooping of the upper eyelids falls over the eye. This can impair vision and lead to other complications. It happens if the "levator muscle," the muscle that lifts the eyelid, doesn't function accordingly. It affects one or both upper eyelids, or it may be worse on one eye than the other. It is of two types: congenital and acquired. It can be diagnosed by tests performed by eye care professionals. Treatment may involve surgery or medications, depending on the severity.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina)
