Ptosis (pronounced toe' sis),
Symptoms: refers to a drooping eyelid,
and means that an upper eyelid falls to a
position that is lower than normal. Because
the involved eyelid may sag to the extent
that it covers the pupil of the eye, it may
interfere with normal vision by obscuring
the upper aspect of the field of vision. In
addition to the visual consequences, some
patients find that a drooping eyelid has an
undesirable effect on their appearance,
and elect to have their eyelids raised to
address the cosmetic issues associated
with this problem. Ptosis may affect one or
both eyes.
Affect: … the child's ability to view the
world will be affected. In order to
compensate for the abnormality, children
with significant ptosis may tilt their head
back into a chin-up position, prop their
eyelid open with their fingers, and/or raise
their eyebrows in an effort to view the
world. Poor vision in an eye that failed to
develop normal sight during childhood, is
the most serious problem associated with
childhood ptosis. A drooping eyelid may
be severe enough to block vision or cause
astigmatism. It can also mask a
misalignment or crossing of the eyes.
Types:
•Congenital ptosis is usually due to
developmental problem with the levator
muscle.
•Detachment or weaknesses of the
muscles of the eyelid or malfunction of the
nerves that control these muscles
•Other cases of ptosis are due to masses
that increase the weight of the eyelid, such
as a cyst, tumor, or swelling.
Treatment:
Congenital ptosis may also be treated by
shortening the levator muscle, although
certain patients require suspension of the
eyelid from the eyebrow. If the ptosis is mild
to moderate, surgery will usually be
performed when your child is school-aged
(3-5 years old). If the ptosis interferes with
your child's vision, surgery will be performed
at an earlier age to allow proper visual
system development and to prevent or
minimize amblyopia. The goal is to elevate
the eyelid to permit a full l field of vision
and to achieve symmetry with the
opposite upper eyelid. The treatment for
these disorders varies considerably.
Regardless of the age of the patient or the
degree of ptosis, each patient requires a
careful examination. With proper
evaluation and intervention, the prognosis
is excellent for this problem.
St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute
http://www.stlukeseye.com/
PubMed Health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/
Penn Eye Care Scheie Eye Institute
http://www.pennmedicine.org/ophth/
IOP Ophthalmics
http://www.iopinc.com/
American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic &
Reconstructive Surgery ASOPRS
http://www.asoprs.org/home.cfm
Florida Eye Institute
http://www.fleye.com/Ptosis.html