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| Droopy upper eyelid - can obstruct vision
(Ptosis) |
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This eyelid condition can be congenital (present
at birth)
or acquired later in life. It is generally corrected by eyelid surgery. |
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 Congenital
Ptosis |
This condition is either inherited or an isolated birth
defect and is already noticeable in very small babies. This is most
likely due a weak levator muscle which raises the eye lid. Occasionally
the vision on the affected side may be reduced. The child will need
regular
monitoring of his/her vision. Surgery can be carried out if the vision
is not developing normally or to improve the appearance. |
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| Acquired
Ptosis |
| This could be due to: |
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Defect of the levator muscle tendom due to ageing
or contact lens wear |
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Weakness in the eyelid muscles occurring in some
rare muscle conditions |
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Problem with the nerve which controls the muscle
of the eyelid |
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Mechanical defect caused by lid swelling/cyst |
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| This usually involves surgery. For children this
can generally be performed from the age of 3-4 years under general
anaesthesia (asleep). In adults, it is preferable to carry out the
operation under a local anaesthetic with the patient awake but sedated.
A co-operative patient allows the surgeon to set the eyelid height and shape
more accurately at the time of surgery. |
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| If both eyes are affected, the surgery is
usually carried out on both sides at the same time. The type of operation depends
on the cause of the Ptosis. This usually involves shortening and strengthening
the levator muscle which opens the eyelid. Occasionally, the lid is
raised by suspending it from the brow muscle. The tissue used for
this may be man-made or harvested from the leg through a small cut
above the knee. |
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Before:
This lady has severe right eyelid ptosis which is obstructing
her vision. |
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After:
After right ptosis surgery on the levator muscle, the eyelid
height and contours are well matched and the visual obstruction
is removed. |
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Credentials
