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Drooping eyelids (also known as ptosis) is more than just a cosmetic dilemma. This condition can affect your ability to see and perform your daily routine. CEENTA's facial plastic surgeons know how important it is for your eyelid to function, which is why we offer procedures to treat your ptosis for both aesthetic and functional results.
Learn more about drooping eyelids and schedule your consultation with CEENTA's oculoplastic surgeons today.
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Ptosis is when the upper eyelid muscle is not strong enough to open the eye fully. A lid can droop a small amount, or so much that it covers the pupil. Ptosis can limit or completely block vision.
There are many reasons an eyelid might not open all the way, a condition called eyelid ptosis. In certain cases, a person can be born with a weak eyelid muscle. In other cases, the muscle can weaken as part of an illness.
Ptosis can occur in adults if the muscles that normally raise the eyelid are weakened. Most ptosis happens with aging. As a person ages, the skin and muscles of the eyelids stretch and weaken. Sometimes, previous eye surgery hastens this change because the instruments used to keep the eye open during surgery can stretch the eyelid a bit Contact lenses can do the same. Drooping can also be a result of damage to the nerves that control the eyelid muscles.
Depending on the severity and time of development of the drooping eyelid, the effects can vary. Ptosis that is congenital can impede on visual development in children and subsequently their ability to learn in addition to posture issues. Mild drooping eyelid that develops later in life may not cause vision impairment, but more significant cases can result in astigmatism.
Children with ptosis should receive regular eye exams to make sure their vision is developing correctly.
Pediatric ptosis benefits from a detailed eyelid examination from a pediatric ophthalmologist. Your child's doctor will consider your child's age, the eyelid height, the strength of the eyelid's muscle, the eye's movements, and whether both eyes are affected.
Treatment generally depends on the function of the eyelid muscles and whether the vision is affected. If your child has amblyopia, that condition should be treated, too.
If the ptosis does not reduce vision and the patient does not mind the appearance, the doctor might recommend no treatment at all. However, if the drooping causes a problem with vision, appearance, or both, treatment may be indicated.
Treating a hooded or drooping eyelid caused by aging changes typically involves surgery although temporary improvement can be offered for adults by using UPNEEQ, a drop approved for the treatment of ptosis.
Surgery for a drooping eyelid is an outpatient procedure. The technique varies depending on the patient and the specific type of ptosis. In most cases, outpatient surgery can be offered under light anesthesia, although for younger patients general anesthesia is advised.
CEENTA has facial plastic surgeons who specialize in ptosis treatment in SouthPark, Belmont, Blakeney, Concord, Huntersville, Salisbury, and Statesville. They are skilled in the most up-to-date technology and treatment options and will come up with a care plan personalized for your needs.
