When the edge of the eyelid falls and covers part of the pupil, it blocks the upper part of your vision. In severe cases, you may have to tilt your head back or lift the eyelid with a finger in order to see out from under the drooping lid.
This droopy eyelid, or ptosis, is generally age-related and occurs when the tendon that attaches the lifting muscle to the eyelid stretches, so the eyelid falls too low. Sometimes, there is a separation between the tendon and the muscle that lifts the eyelid.
It is not uncommon to develop a drooping eyelid after cataract surgery or long-standing contact lens use. A similar drooping may also affect the eyebrow and is known as brow ptosis — the word simply means downward displacement.
Ptosis can also be present at birth, or congenital. This form of the condition is often caused by poor development of the muscle that lifts the eyelid. If uncorrected, normal vision may fail to develop and the child may adopt an abnormal posture, with his or her head tilted backwards.
Ptosis surgery may be performed in combination with other procedures such as blepharoplasty or brow lift. Mr Kamalarajah will discuss all the possibilities with you in detail, so you are able to make an informed decision.
Types of ptosis
Ptosis can affect both children and adults.
- Congenital ptosis: Congenital ptosis means your child was born with the condition. Problems with the development of the levator muscle cause congenital ptosis.
- Acquired ptosis: This type of ptosis affects adults later in life. It can occur when your levator muscle weakens or separates away from your eyelid. It can also be caused by certain medical conditions.
What causes ptosis?
Ptosis causes depend on the type. Some babies are born with ptosis in one or both eyelids (congenital ptosis).
Ptosis can occur later in life (acquired ptosis) if the muscles or ligament that normally raises your eyelid are weakened by age, injury or disease. Sometimes, the drooping is a result of damage to the nerves that control your eyelid muscles.
Diseases and conditions that may result in ptosis include:
- Cysts/lumps on eyelid
- Neurological conditions such as Horner’s syndrome, stroke
- Muscular conditions eg Myasthenia, Muscular dystrophy
- Tumour
- Long term contact lens use
Most ptosis just happens with aging. As you age, the skin and muscles of your eyelids stretch and weaken. Sometimes, previous eye surgery speeds up this change because the instruments used to keep your eye open during surgery can stretch your eyelid.
Eye drops for ptosis
Eye drops for adults with certain forms of acquired ptosis are available.
After using the drops, some people have noticed their eyelid opens wider. To continue working, you must use the drops every day. The drops don’t work for all forms of ptosis. You will need to discuss this with your Ophthalmologist.
