Cindy Crawford has revealed the health condition she has suffered from since the age of 50.
The 60-year-old supermodel announced on Tuesday that she has had blepharoptosis for the last 10 years.
The condition, commonly known as ptosis, occurs when the upper eyelid droops lower than normal, potentially covering the pupil and blocking vision, according to Yale Health.
It is typically caused by aging, muscle weakness, nerve issues or congenital factors, the site added.
The Vogue cover girl said that blepharoptosis prevented her from doing close-up photos early in the morning.
Then, in 2024, the Illinois native found a way to combat the condition, which has boosted her confidence.
Cindy Crawford has had the health condition blepharoptosis since age 50, she revealed on Tuesday. Above, in New York on May 16
At 50, left, when the condition began, and at 60, right, on May 20, after treatment
‘I remember probably ten years ago, after I turned 50 when I would be doing early morning calls, they would be like, “Are you fine to start at 6am?”‘ she told People.
She was honest with her photo shoot team. ‘I can get up whatever time you want, but my face doesn’t wake up until 9am, so just don’t plan any closeups or anything,’ she said.
‘I could see on camera that my eyes just weren’t quite as perky as they once were,’ the wife of Rande Gerber added. Sometimes a makeup artist would ‘have to pick up [my lids] to get the makeup in there.’
But two years ago, her dermatologist told her about Upneeq, an FDA-approved prescription eye drop used to temporarily lift droopy upper eyelids.
He told her that ‘it was something that could help your eyes just look a little bit more wide open and awake.’
So she tried it. At first, she was only using it for photo shoots.
‘But when I realized you can use it every day, I was like, “Why not?” It’s [one of] those little things we can do to feel like the best version of ourselves. And, when women feel more confident, they present themselves in the world in a more confident way.’
The star said that her condition previously altered the way she did photo shoots
Wth her daughter Kaia Gerber in 206 – before the icon started using Upneeq
In 2024 (above), the Illinois native found a way to deal with blepharoptosis, which has boosted her confidence
The star poses for the brand Upneeq, a once-daily prescription eye drop for adults with low-lying eyelids, this month
Board-certified dermatologist Dr Dendy Engelman, who did not treat Crawford, explained to People that ‘as we age, there’s a phenomenon called acquired blepharoptosis, where the muscle that controls the upper eyelid gets weakened.
‘In addition to the natural drop in the eyebrow positioning, this results in a smaller eye aperture or opening.’
‘The thing I love about Upneeq is it’s not a big commitment. You’re not going under the knife,’ Crawford said.
She also revealed her morning routine to the site.
‘I get up, I put my Bible app on and while I’m listening to that, I dry brush, gua sha, then I go do my red light. Then I go outside and when I come back in, I have a cup of coffee, work out, then I shower.
Presley Gerber, Kaia, Crawford and Rande Gerber at RE/DONE x Kaia Gerber Short/Cuts event in Los Angeles on May 20
‘When I get ready for the day, usually around 9.30 in the morning after my workout, that’s when I use my Upneeq eye drops.
‘And then my skincare, which is Meaningful Beauty. I can do my face in less than two minutes. Even if I’m home, I get ready for the day.’
She also has a healthy attitude about getting older.
‘Aging has its challenges and its gifts. I think, for instance, 50 was really hard for me. That was the one that I was like, “Wow, there’s nothing girlish about 50.”
‘So, how I handled that was by writing my book. I was like, “I’m not going to run from this or try to hide it, I’m just going to write about my lessons that I’ve learned over these 50 years.”‘
