When you look in the mirror, do you see sleepy-looking eyes? Maybe your upper eyelids sag a little or cover your pupil. It could be something called ptosis. That simply means "drooping."
What Are the Symptoms of Ptosis?
The main sign is drooping in one or both eyes. If it blocks a lot of your eye, it can affect how much you see. You may have to tip your head back and lift your chin to see better. Or you might have to arch your eyebrows to lift your eyelids. Over time, doing these things may affect your head and neck.
If your child has it, he could also developamblyopia, or "lazy eye." That's poor sight in an eye that didn't develop normally during childhood. This might happen if the lid droops so much it blocks vision. Ptosis can also cause blurry eyesight that can lead to amblyopia. Treat it early in childhood so it doesn't cause long-termvision loss.
What Causes Ptosis?
You can get ptosis several ways. Sometimes babies are born with it.
Adults can develop it later in life. It can happen if the nerves that control the eyelid muscles are damaged. It might also develop if an injury or disease weakens the muscles and ligaments that raise the eyelids.
Sometimes it happens as you age. The skin and muscles around your eyes get weaker. Surgery -- like LASIK or cataract surgery -- can stretch your eyelid. An eye tumor can cause ptosis, too.
What do your eyes say about your health?
If it’s not hurting your vision, your doctor may decide not to treat it.
Often, doctors won’t treat children with ptosis. Your child's doctor will check his eyes regularly. He’ll likely treat amblyopia with drops, patches, or glasses. And he’ll watch the ptosis to see if your child needs surgery as he gets older.
For adults, treatment usually means surgery. Your doctor may remove extra skin and tuck the muscle that lifts the lid. Or he may reattach and strengthen the muscles that lift your eyelids.
You may also be able to wear glasses with a special crutch built in. It lifts your eyelids so you can see better. That helps you avoid surgery.
Ptosis can cause problems driving, reading, and even walking up and down stairs. If that’s the case, seek treatment. Take painkillers if it triggers headaches.
Children with ptosis should see an eye doctor regularly. Treat any other eye issues that could cause more problems. Think about having surgery if your doctor suggests it due to the ptosis causing vision loss. For teens, surgery can improve not just vision, but self-esteem...
Op.Dr. Ahmet UMAY
Bristol University
Ophtalmology Section / UK
Reference :
www.m.webmd.com
Eye Health Ptosis
