Ptosis

Ptosis is the medical term that describes a drooping upper eyelid.

When the muscles that hold up your eyelid are not strong enough to do their job, the eyelid starts to droop. As the upper eyelid droops further down it can block your field of vision.

Some children are born with ptosis, however this condition is usually a problem that occurs later in life. As you age, muscles in the eyelids begin to weaken and stretch, and over time and can cause the eyelid to droop.

Ptosis can also be caused by certain neurologic disorders that affect the eyelid muscles like high blood pressure, brain tumor, or stroke.

The best way to correct ptosis is to understand its cause.

If your ptosis is caused by a treatable disease, then your situation may improve with treatment. For example, if your ptosis is a result of a brain tumor, then removing the tumor may fix the problem.

In other cases ptosis may be caused by aging. When this is the case, the best corrective measure is often surgery called a ptosis repair. There are several surgical techniques that can be used for ptosis repair, and finding the one that is right for you will depend on Dr. Cohen’s detailed examination.

Levator Resection:
Tightens the levator muscle, the muscle that elevates the eyelids through a small external incision.

Muller’s Muscle Resection:
In some cases ptosis can be performed without a visible skin incision to tighten Muller’s muscle that elevates the lid.

Frontalis Sling Operation:
If the previous two procedures are not an option, a silicone sling ties your forehead muscle to your eyelid. When you raise your forehead, your eyelids go up.
It’s important to come in for a consultation if you suffer from ptosis, because only a highly experienced oculoplastic surgeon like Dr. Cohen can advise on the best procedure for your exact situation.

Upper eyelid ptosis can sometimes cover the eye completely. If left untreated in children the brain starts to “forget” how to interpret information from the eye and vision can be permanently impaired. This is called amblyopia.

The constant pressure from the eyelid on the cornea (your body’s natural contact lens) may cause the cornea to change shape. This change in shape will affect how light enters your eye and can cause the eye to not focus properly and blur your vision.

Everybody will recover from surgery differently depending on their medical history and their own unique body. On average, you can expect about 7-14 days of swelling during your recovery from ptosis repair.

Most patients return to work in about a week. After seven days most people can resume normal activities.

If your vision is impaired, ptosis correction may be covered by insurance. Every insurance company is different, so it’s important to check with your surgeon.

Dr. Cohen will need to examine and perform the necessary tests to decide if you are a candidate for ptosis repair. After your consultation, it may be necessary for Dr. Cohen’s office to send the results to your insurance company for their final decision.