What Is Ptosis?
- Posted on: Jul 15 2020
Ptosis is the medical term for a drooping eyelid. If your upper eyelids are sagging enough to be noticeable or even enough to cover a pupil, it’s possible you have ptosis.
What Are the Symptoms?
The most obvious sign is that one or both of your eyelids are drooping. The good thing is, this condition isn’t painful but it could be annoying or even dangerous if it blocks your sight. You may find yourself tilting your head back or lifting your chin in an effort to see better. You may even arch your eyebrows trying to lift your lids. After awhile these movements may impact your head and neck.
What Causes Ptosis?
There are multiple causes of ptosis. In some cases, you’re born with it.
It can also develop as an adult when the nerves that help control your eyelid muscles get damaged. This could be due to a disease or injury that weakened the muscles and ligaments near your eyelid.
In other cases, it just comes with age. As you get older, your skin and muscles around your eyes get weaker. Surgery can help to stretch your eyelid.
How Is It Treated?
If your ptosis is minor and not impacting your vision, it’s possible you may not need to treat it at all.
For children with ptosis, treatment may be put off until they’re older. However, it’s important to keep getting their eyes checked regularly and use any drops, patches, or glasses prescribed as needed.
If you’re an adult with ptosis and want treatment, surgery is likely your best option. Surgery entails removing extra skin and tucking in the muscle that helps to lift the lid. We may also reattach and strengthen that muscle.
How Do I Manage It?
If your ptosis is minor and not causing issues other than cosmetic ones, you can likely just ignore it. However, if it impacts your vision driving, reading, or even walking can be uncomfortable and possibly dangerous. If you have issues doing these activities, reach out to a doctor about what to do.
If you have ptosis or think you may and want to learn more about surgery or treatment options, call us today at 425-455-2131.
Posted in: Latest News, Ptosis Repair