Ptosis

Ptosis is a technical term that refers to drooping upper eyelids. Ptosis occurs as a result of reduced muscle tone in the levators - the muscles that control the eyelids. Depending on the severity of the ptosis, the droop may be barely noticeable. In other cases, the lid may droop so low that it covers the pupil, impairing vision. Although people with ptosis don't necessarily have internal eye problems, the drooping lid can cause sight loss.

Although ptosis can be a congenital condition occurring in children, it is most commonly a result of the aging process. Ptosis can also be caused by an eye injury, eye tumor, neurological disorder or systemic disease, such as diabetes.

Failure to treat ptosis, especially in children, can create a lifetime of poor vision. Surgery is the most effective treatment for ptosis, and consists of a tightening of the levator muscles. In very severe cases of weakened levators, doctors attach the eyelids under the eyebrow to allow the forehead muscles to substitute for the levators in the raising of the eyelids.

For more information on ptosis, please contact us. Select a state below for a consultation.