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Palpebral Ptosis or drooping eyelids, also known as blepharoptosis, is a condition that causes the upper eyelid to droop. The lowering of the eyelid can cover the pupil and limit vision, giving rise to a health and aesthetic problem.
This pathology is usually caused by a dysfunction of the elevator muscle, which prevents the eyes from being opened correctly. It can affect both adults and children, although its incidence is higher in mature people.
In children it is essential to be attentive to these symptoms, since if ptosis is not treated in time it could lead to lazy eye or amblyopia. Early diagnosis in childhood is the basis for developing good vision during growth.
There are different types of drooping eyelids
Unilateral or bilateral ptosis
In most cases, ptosis is unilateral, that is, it affects only one eyelid. But on other occasions, if it is bilateral, it affects both eyelids.
It is the most common ptosis. It is produced by the aging of the tissues of the eyelids, causing the elevator muscle to weaken. This causes the drooping of the eyelid.
Congenital ptosis is one that is suffered from birth.
It occurs when there is a cyst or tumour in the upper eyelid causing a mechanical fall of it.
This type of ptosis is characterized by a lack of nerve input to the muscle.
In this case, there is direct involvement of the elevator palpebrae muscle, which prevents it from performing its function properly and prevents the upper eyelid from maintaining its position.
Treatment of eyelid ptosis
First, a complete medical history is taken. We must know the moment, mode of appearance of the problem and the symptoms to determine the cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment, according to the degree of visual impairment.
With the treatment of palpebral ptosis, the lost visual field is recovered, by raising the eyelid again, while improving physical appearance.
In most cases surgery is necessary to solve the problem. The surgeon will choose the appropriate technique for each patient. In adults it is performed under local anaesthesia and on an outpatient basis. The intervention usually lasts from 30 to 40 minutes and consists of restoring the normal function of the eyelid, through a minimal incision in the palpebral fold, without leaving a visible scar. Outcome and recovery are usually rapid.
