Eyelid
A congenital ptosis in which the eyelid lifts when the jaw moves — an abnormal connection between the chewing and eyelid-lifting nerves.
Medically reviewed by Kathleen M. Duerksen, MD, FACSOculoplastic SurgeonLast updated June 2026
Your Surgeon
Kathleen M. Duerksen, MD, FACS
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Eyelids, Orbits and Tear Ducts
🏅 ASOPRS Fellow
Part of our complete guide to Ptosis (Droopy Eyelid) — this page covers Marcus Gunn jaw-wink ptosis in depth.
Marcus Gunn jaw-wink ptosis is an example of synkinesis — an abnormal neural connection between two muscle groups that are normally unrelated. A branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V, which supplies the pterygoid jaw muscles) misdirects into the branch of the oculomotor nerve (CN III) that lifts the upper eyelid. The result: the ptotic lid rises whenever the jaw opens or moves laterally.
Slide the control to move the mouth.
Use the slider in the animation above to simulate the jaw-wink synkinesis — the eyelid rising as the jaw opens.
The surgical approach is guided by the severity of both the ptosis and the jaw-wink:
Marcus Gunn jaw-wink is one of several congenital eyelid and orbital conditions present from birth.
Your Surgeon
Kathleen M. Duerksen, MD, FACS
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Eyelids, Orbits and Tear Ducts
🏅 ASOPRS Fellowship Trained
Schedule a consultation with Kathleen M. Duerksen, MD, FACS to learn if this procedure is right for you.
