What Is Ptosis of the Eye?

Ptosis (pronounced toe-sis) means drooping in medical terminology. Ptosis of the eye means a droopy upper eyelid and is medically known as blepharoptosis. If the ptosis is severe enough the eyelid can obstruct part of the field of vision and impact the life of the patient. Treatment of blepharoptosis that does not interfere with the patient's vision but that bothers the patient due to appearance issues is often considered a cosmetic treatment.

Causes of Ptosis

• Blepharoptosis can be genetic and occasionally occurs in children. A more common cause is the aging process. The ligaments and muscles of the eyelid deteriorate and stretch with age. Other causes include injuries or diseases that affect the same muscles and ligaments or the nerves of the eyelid.

Diagnosis

• The initial diagnosis is usually performed visually by looking at the patient. An ophthalmologist or optometrist may also perform a visual field test to determine if any part of the patient's normal field of vision is obscured by the drooping eyelid.

Treatment

• If the blepharoptosis does not obscure vision and the patient is not bothered by the appearance no treatment is usually attempted. If the droopy eyelid does affect vision, or the patient is bothered by their appearance, surgery is usually indicated.

Blepharoplasty

• Blepharoplasty surgery is usually performed under a local anesthetic and a sedative. There are several techniques that can be used by the surgeon, all of which shorten or tighten the muscles that control the upper eyelid.

Related Conditions

• While blepharoptosis is sagging eyelids, brow ptosis is a sagging of the eyebrow. Sagging eyebrows can also interfere with vision by obstructing the field of vision. In some cases both conditions are corrected surgically at the same time. Patients should confirm insurance coverage for these types of surgeries. If it is not documented that the sagging or drooping eyelids or eyebrows is restricting vision, the medical treatment could be considered cosmetic which may not be covered by some insurance carriers including Medicare.