Ptosis is the drooping of the eyelid. While ptosis is usually the result of aging, some people develop ptosis after eye surgery or an injury, and some children are born with the condition.
Causes of Ptosis
Ptosis can be caused by some of the following:
- Normal aging process
- Congenital condition
- Injury
- Disease
- Diabetes
- Eye surgery
- Stroke
- Tumor
- Cancer
- Myasthenia gravis
- Horner syndrome
Symptoms of Ptosis
Symptoms of ptosis may include:
- The drooping of one or both of the eyelids
- An increase in tearing of the eyes
- Difficulty closing the eye or blinking
- Reduced vision
Treatment of Ptosis
Patients may seek treatment for droopy eyelids for cosmetic and/or medical purposes. Severe drooping may obstruct vision as the eyelid gradually droops lower and lower, eventually covering the eye. If ptosis interferes with a patient's vision, a blepharoplasty will be performed to eliminate the drooping. Many young patients with mild to moderate ptosis should be examined regularly to check for other vision problems including amblyopia, refractive errors and muscular diseases.
