Ptosis Repair
Thousands of Americans, including both children and adults, are affected by a condition called ptosis. Ptosis occurs when one or both upper eyelids droop and the edge of the upper eyelid falls toward or over the pupil.
This is usually caused by stretching or thinning of the tendon between the muscle that raises the eyelid and the eyelid itself. When this occurs, the muscle that normally raises the eyelid has to work harder to lift it. This leads to symptoms of eyelid and forehead muscle fatigue, headaches, and eyelid heaviness.
When the condition occurs in children, it is usually congenital and the child is born with an abnormally stiff muscle in the eyelid. This can lead to discomfort and vision loss, along with other related symptoms, so surgery is recommended early in life.
How Ptosis Repair Works
To correct ptosis, the surgeon makes a small incision in the skin of the upper eyelid in order to reach the muscles and tendons. The placement of the incision will vary depending on a person’s specific needs and necessary treatment.
The droopy eyelid is like a curtain that blocks the view. Patients with ptosis frequently notice that they have less peripheral or side vision, particularly when looking upward. The greater the severity of the condition, the greater the peripheral vision loss.
When the eyelid is raised, either manually by hand or surgically as described above, the blockage is removed and the eye can see.
Am I a Candidate for Ptosis Repair?
In most cases, you will be a good candidate for ptosis repair if the cause of your visual impairment is ptosis and you are otherwise in good health.
Ptosis surgery only corrects vision loss due to droopy eyelids. It does not improve blurred vision caused by problems inside the eye or by visual loss caused by neurological disease behind the eye.
As with any medical procedure, results may vary from patient to patient and cannot be guaranteed.