Ptosis is a medical condition that causes one or both of a person's eyelids to droop abnormally. The best ptosis treatment typically depends on the cause of the condition. Patients who develop this condition from an underlying disease are usually treated for that disease, and this may help relieve the ptosis. In some cases, doctors may prescribe surgery to correct a drooping eyelid. Patients are generally able to make a better decision about ptosis treatment after they receive a thorough medical examination from a doctor and after a likely cause of the condition has been found.
Some patients with milder forms of ptosis may undergo cosmetic surgical correction of an affected eyelid to improve their facial appearance. In some severe cases of the disease, ptosis treatment may include surgery to improve a patient's vision that has been impaired by a severely drooping eyelid. Doctors may also recommend surgery for children to lessen the chances that they will develop amblyopia, or lazy eye. Some physicians may prescribe a form of nonsurgical ptosis treatment such as a scleral contact lens or a special type of eyeglass. These types of treatment typically act as a crutch to support a drooping eyelid.
In addition to a drooping eyelid, patients with ptosis may develop increased tearing of an affected eye and interference with normal vision. Cases can also be caused by a congenital abnormality or they may develop from an injury or a disease. Some brain tumors can affect the nerves and muscles of the eyelid and result in ptosis. In some instances, individuals with diabetes, Horner syndrome, or a stroke as well as myasthenia gravis may experience drooping eyelids. Ptosis may also occur in some older people as part of a normal aging process.
Doctors typically conduct a medical examination of a patient with a drooping eyelid, and they look for other diseases that may cause ptosis. In some instances, physicians may find damage to the muscles or nerves of the eyelid or abnormally loose skin in an upper eyelid. Most patients with ptosis can benefit from regular eye examinations from an ophthalmologist who can monitor the progress of a patient's ptosis treatment.
Some children with ptosis may develop a complication known as amblyopia, or lazy eye. This condition often affects a person's ability to see visual details and is a common cause of childhood vision problems. Patients with amblyopia may have problems with depth perception, their eyes may turn abnormally inward or outward, and their eyes may not work together properly. Corrective lenses or special eye drops may be used to treat amblyopia in many cases.