Ptosis

View Video
Ptosis is simply the medical term for “drooping” Many body parts can suffer from ptosis, but ptosis of the upper eyelids is particularly detrimental to aesthetics and can cause you to appear much older than your true age. Furthermore, upper eyelid ptosis often makes a person look fatigued or inattentive. Upper eyelid ptosis may also become more than a cosmetic issue by interfering with vision.

What are the Causes of Upper Eyelid Ptosis?
Ptosis is an age-related challenge caused by a weakening of the muscles responsible for lifting the eyelids. As a result of this weakness, either one or both of the upper eyelids droop. The degree of the droop may be mild to severe, with severe ptosis leading to functional vision loss and tension headaches from straining to raise the eyelids. While most cases of ptosis are due to the natural aging process, other causes of ptosis among adults may be: A side effect of eye surgery (i.e. cataract surgery), Graves' Disease, Diabetes, Congenital ptosis, Myasthenia gravis, Cranial nerve disorders, Stroke, Strabismus, Facial nerve disorders, Orbital disorders, Tumor, Chronic inflammation and Trauma.

What are the Conservative Treatments for Ptosis?
There are non-surgical treatments available for upper lid ptosis, but these methods are generally much less effective than surgical correction. These conservative treatments include eyedrops to raise the eyelids or even taping the upper lids to hold them open. Both of these approaches are merely temporary solutions and can cause additional problems like eye dryness and irritation.

What Surgical Treatments are Available for Ptosis?
The majority of the time, surgical correction is the definitive and most effective treatment for upper eyelid ptosis, particularly in cases of severe ptosis. The two main types of upper lid ptosis repair are the internal approach and the external approach. While the internal approach leaves no scar and carries a high success rate, not every patient is a candidate for this technique. If your ptosis is severe, you may need an external approach. This choice is best determined your surgeon based on the extent and nature of the ptosis. Ptosis repair can be performed under local anesthesia or IV sedation.

Ptosis: Treatment Overview View Video