Have you ever noticed that your upper eyelid is sagging or drooping? If so, you may have a condition called Ptosis. This condition occurs when the upper eyelid of one or both eyes falls, sometimes covering part or all of the pupil. Ptosis meaning: it is a condition that can affect your vision and cause other problems such as eye strain, dryness, watering, or lazy eye. This article explores ptosis causes, risk factors, prevention, and treatment.
Causes of Ptosis
This health condition can be present from birth or develop later in life. The main types of Ptosis are congenital and acquired.
- Congenital Ptosis is when the eyelid muscle does not develop properly during pregnancy. This can be due to genetic factors, developmental problems, birth defects or injuries that affect the eye muscles or nerves.
- Acquired Ptosis is when the eyelid muscle becomes weakened or damaged over time. This can be due to ageing, injury, trauma, infection, surgery, Botox injections, eye tumours, nerve damage, muscular disorders, or systemic diseases.
What are the Risk Factors of Ptosis
There are some factors that can increase your risk of developing Ptosis or worsen it. These include:
- Ageing: Your eyelid muscles and skin may lose elasticity and sag as you age.
- Use of Contact Lenses: Contact lenses can stretch or pull your eyelids and damage the levator muscle.
- Eye Rubbing: Too much rubbing of your eyes can stretch or tear your eyelids and weaken the levator muscle.
- Eye Surgery: Any surgery that involves the eyelids or the eye muscles can cause scarring, swelling, bleeding, or infection that can affect the levator muscle.
- Horner’s Syndrome: This rare condition affects the nerves that control the eye muscles. It can cause Ptosis, along with a small pupil and reduced sweating on one side of the face.
- Myasthenia Gravis: This autoimmune disorder causes muscle weakness and fatigue. It can affect the eye muscles and cause Ptosis, double vision, and drooping of other facial muscles.
How to Prevent Ptosis?
It is difficult to prevent Ptosis, especially if it is congenital or due to unavoidable causes. However, some ways exist to reduce the risk or slow its progression.
- Don’t Wear Contact Lenses or do Excessive Eye Rubbing: These habits can damage your eyelids and levator muscles over time.
- Prefer a Skilled Botox Injector: Botox injections can cause Ptosis if done incorrectly or too close to the eye muscles. Ensure you select a qualified and experienced injector who can avoid this complication.
- Go to an Eye Specialist for Symptoms: If you notice any changes in your vision, eyelid position, eye movement, or eye appearance, visit an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) as soon as possible.
What are the Treatments Available for Ptosis?
The treatment for Ptosis depends on the cause, severity, and impact on your vision and quality of life. There are two main options for treating Ptosis – non-surgical and surgical.
Non-surgical options include:
Applying Eye Drops: Certain eye drops activate the superior tarsal muscle to raise the eyelid momentarily. But they might also cause adverse effects, including headaches, dry eyes, or dilated pupils.
Glasses With Special Qualities: Some eyeglasses feature a wire or plastic attachment that, when worn, raises the eyelid. While they might not be comfortable or obvious, they can help you see better.
Utilising Patches: Kids with congenital ptosis can see better with patches that cover their drooping eyelids. Moreover, they can prevent lazy eyes by making the opposite eye work harder.
Surgical options include:
Blepharoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the eyelids. It can improve the appearance of the eyelid, but not its function.
Levator Resection is a technique to stretch the levator muscle by removing a piece of it. This can improve the position and function of the eyelids, but it can also cause scarring and asymmetry.
A Frontal Lift is a procedure in which a lifting strap made of synthetic or natural materials connects the eyelid to the forehead (forehead muscle). This can lift the eyelid by contracting the anterior muscle but can also cause infection, discomfort and sling erosion.
In Conclusion,
Ptosis make the upper eyelid droop downward, affecting one or both eyes. It tends to be congenital or acquired and can impair vision and cause different side effects. The causes, prevention, and treatment of ptosis depend upon the seriousness of the condition.
You should have regular eye tests to monitor this condition and begin treatment if necessary. Ptosis treatment can be non-surgical or surgical, with advantages and disadvantages for each option.
