Ptosis Repair
Ptosis, or drooping eyelids, can occur at any age. Children with ptosis often have asymmetrical or low-set eyelids. In some cases, visual development can be impaired due to ptosis in children. An eye exam is necessary early in life when children have congenital ptosis. Children with congenital ptosis need to be monitored and vision assessed during the first years of life. If the vision is not affected, congenital ptosis repair is usually planned between 3 and 5 years of age. This type of surgery is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.
When ptosis occurs in adults, it is often seen in the older patients. A drooping eyelid can fall across the pupil and block the vision. Patients often report that their vision is better by manually elevating the eyelid margin with their fingertips. When a ptotic eyelid affects the vision, it can be repaired. In adults, the usual cause of a drooping eyelid or ptosis is a broken muscle tendon in the eyelid. The levator aponeurosis is the muscle that lifts the eyelid, and if the tendon breaks, then ptosis can result. In adults, the repair of ptosis involves an outpatient procedure under modified local anesthesia. Patient cooperation during the operation is essential to optimize the eyelid height, contour and symmetry.