Ptosis

Ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid and commonly occurs with aging. The lid may droop only slightly, or it may cover the pupil entirely. Depending on the severity, vision can be restricted or blocked completely, giving rise to symptoms such as headaches and difficulty keeping the eyes open.

Ptosis can:
• Affect one or both eyelids
• Be inherited
• Be present at birth
• Occur later in life

If a child is born with ptosis, it is called "congenital ptosis." This is often caused by poor development of the muscle that lifts the eyelid, called the levator muscle. In adults, a common cause of ptosis is progressive weakening and stretching of the levator muscle due to age.

Dr Stelmach performs ptosis surgery in hospital as a day case, under local anaesthetic and intravenous sedation ("twilight" anaesthetic, not a general anaesthetic). The muscle is advanced and reattached to the tarsal plate within the eyelid. The height and shape of the eyelid is adjusted to provide the patient with an optimal functional and cosmetic result.