Eyelid Malpositions | Ptosis | Alicia Carroll MD

What is Ptosis?

Have you felt like your field of vision has decreased, or that you struggle to hold your brow up in order to see?

You may be experiencing what is known as “ptosis”.

Ptosis, otherwise known as “eyelid drooping”, is a medical term used to describe the symptom of the eyelid falling and interfering with daily life. This can occur from a number of reasons, whether due to age, trauma, birth defects, neurological complications, or secondary to another issue, such as eyebrow ptosis.

At OPRSC, our team is well-versed in the diagnosis and treatment of these issues, whether through conservative management or surgical procedure. Many of these procedures are covered by insurance, Call us today to schedule a consultation and to see what ways we can improve your quality of life.

Mechanical Ptosis

Mechanical ptosis, or acquired ptosis, is often caused by any abnormality weighing down, causing your eyelids to droop. This is often a secondary issue due to excess eyelid skin or the forward movement of the brow in the process of aging.

Mechanical ptosis is addressed by a full oculoplastics clinical exam to determine if the eyelids and/or brow are creating this issue. Once defined, the issue is treated by either a upper lid blepharoplasty, an endoscopic brow lift, or even both!

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Involutional Ptosis

Also called ‘aponeurotic’ ptosis, involutional ptosis is the most common type of ptosis. In this, due to aging, the eyelid’s levator muscles stretch too far. Sometimes, its effects are accelerated due to the rubbing of eyes over years. In some cases, it may occur due to intraocular and eyelid surgical procedures. Surgical correction is the mainstay of ptosis management.

Dermatochalasis

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Neurogenic Ptosis

In neurogenic ptosis or Neurogenic Eyelid Malposition, the defect in the eye can be at the level of the neuromuscular junction, the third cranial nerve nucleus or peripheral nerve, or the sympathetic chain. This eye problem is usually associated with patients suffering from myasthenia gravis or multiple sclerosis.

There are several different surgical approaches to correct this malposition – and the best-suited for you will depend on its cause. The most common procedure is Levator muscle tightening, followed by Muller’s muscle tightening, Fasanella-Servat procedure, and blepharoplasty.

Whichever procedure is performed on you, at OPRSC we pride ourselves on our diligent and safe approaches to eyelid corrections of any kind. We try to resolve the client’s vision and eye appearance in an aesthetic manner, with zero compromises whatsoever in terms of expertise and post-surgical care.

Congenital Ptosis

If your child is facing ptosis from birth or within the first year of their life, it is known as congenital ptosis. While in most cases, the cause is unknown, it may be inherited. If this condition remains uncorrected, the child may face other visual disorders.

This issue is best dealt with via surgery which also takes care of any cosmetic concerns.

Lagophthalmos

Bell’s palsy sometimes creates a short-term complication called Lagophthalmos, a problem in which your eyes can not close completely. This leads to a dry eye condition which can be extremely troublesome. However, fret not, as you can find the best-possible solution to this issue with us – both in surgical and non-surgical forms.