Ptosis

In ptosis the upper eyelid droops. Such a defect appears as “sleepy eyes”, in which upper-eyelid is somewhat superimposed on the lower one.

Ptosis causes

It may be forced by several reasons:

• congenital factor, kids with such symptoms need to have a thorough analysis of the eyelids;
• weakening of muscles or ligaments after any injury;
• damages to nerves controlling eyelid muscles.

Often, it manifests itself over years, due to skin stretching and weakening. Eye-surgery can act as ailment provocateur, since surgical tools used during the intervention stretch eyelids in some way.

Ptosis symptoms

Main symptomatology: sagging of one or both eyelids. This doesn’t provoke painful sensations, but can create certain difficulties in visual perception. People suffering from this defect have to get heads back and raise chins in order to better perceive the picture of the world around them. Or, you have to lift your eyebrows. Such actions can have a detrimental effect on head and neck muscles.

Kids may face amblyopia or “lazy eyes”. This’s dilute vision of the eye that does not function properly. This may happen if the eyelid interlocks vision or blurs the image.

Diagnosis of ptosis

To detect ptosis, doctors need eye examination. Degree of ailment progress is calculated by calculating the indicator, which is equal to the distance from the pupil to the eyelid. To correctly determine the necessary treatment and the possibility of excluding surgery, the specialist may prescribe additional tests:

• detection of visual acuity and fields;
• calculation of pressure inside the eye;
• checking the condition of the fundus;
• biomicroscopy;
• cerebrum MRI/CT.

Kids are examined especially carefully.

Ptosis treatment

If ptosis doesn’t influence vision-qualities and doesn’t provoke uncomfortable feelings in a person, the doctor may not prescribe any therapy. If ailment provokes defects with vision, appearance, etc., it must be dealt with. In case disease was provoked by age-related changes, surgical intervention may be necessary. Surgery takes place with anesthesia with sedation. There are several types of surgeries being able to help correct a droopy-eyelid:

• an incision is made in the upper-eyelid, muscles supporting it is tightened, and additional sutures are applied;
• an intervention performed from under the eyelid. Doctors turn the eyelid over and tighten muscles from below. In this case, there’s no need to cut the skin.

After surgical manipulations, eyelids can fall back slightly or not close completely. Then the specialist will advise additional methods of therapy. But, mostly, surgical therapy helps to get rid of ptosis and recover normal eyelids.