Ptosis Repair
Droopy eyelids are perceived as fatigue and disinterest, even if they reflect nothing of the sort. In many cases, a droopy upper eyelid position is the result of ptosis, a condition that affects the muscle controlling the eyelid. By working with a board-certified ophthalmological surgeon for ptosis repair, patients can rediscover an alert and refreshed appearance.
An Overview Ptosis (Droopy Eyelids)
Ptosis is a medical condition where the upper eyelid droops over the eye. This can cause vision impairment, eye strain, headaches, and a tired appearance. Ptosis can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (developed later in life) and can affect one or both eyes. Treatment options for ptosis vary depending on the cause and severity of the condition. Mild ptosis may not require any treatment, while more severe cases may require surgery to lift the eyelid.
- Mild ptosis: 2 mm of eyelid droop (tired appearance but no vision impairment)
- Moderate ptosis: 3 mm of eyelid droop (tired appearance and may droopy slightly over the pupil)
- Severe ptosis: 4+ mm of eyelid droop (can significantly affect vision and appearance)
Who Can Treat Droopy Eyelids?
How Do We Correct Droopy Eyelids?
There are several surgical treatments for eyelid ptosis, including:
- Levator resection: This surgery involves shortening the levator muscle that lifts the eyelid to improve its position.
- Muller muscle resection: This surgery involves removing a small segment of the Muller’s muscle, which is also responsible for lifting the eyelid.
- Frontalis sling surgery: This procedure involves using a small piece of material, such as silicone or a patient’s own tissue, to create a sling that attaches the eyebrow to the eyelid. This allows the eyebrow muscles to lift the eyelid.
- Brow ptosis surgery: Sometimes, ptosis may be caused by drooping eyebrows, in which case a brow lift surgery may be recommended to lift the eyebrows and improve the position of the eyelids.
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Ptosis Repair FAQs
Ptosis is the medical term for drooping upper eyelids. The “p” in ptosis is silent. Ptosis occurs when the upper eyelid is lower than the typical – becoming closer to the pupil (sometimes the eyelid is so low that it covers the pupil). When the eyelids are droopy, you might hear, “you look tired,” but you are not tired; your eyelids are droopy.
Ptosis can cause problems with your vision, especially peripheral vision. Droppy eyelids can make driving more challenging and dangerous and even complicate routine tasks like reading and working on a computer.
Ptosis is most commonly caused by the weakening of the muscle responsible for opening the eyelid, which is part of the aging process. There are other reasons (besides aging) for a droopy eyelid. Therefore, it is important to seek evaluation by an eyelid specialist.
You can open your eyelid thanks to the levator palpebrae superioris muscle. But when the muscle attachment (aponeurosis) at the end of this muscle stretches or weakens, it disrupts muscle function and makes it far more challenging to open your eye fully.
Some other causes of ptosis include genetics, congenital ptosis (born with a weak levator muscle), stroke (neurologic), tumors behind the eye (pseudoptosis), and myasthenia gravis (neurologic).
Regardless of the reason for ptosis, an eyelid specialist should evaluate the condition to determine whether you are a good candidate for surgery.
A blepharoplasty procedure removes excess skin and fat without addressing the muscle to lift the eyelid. Since blepharoplasty doesn’t involve muscle repair, your lid height remains unchanged. The confusion often lies in how blepharoplasty might seem to correct a droopy eyelid. However, it only removes excess skin. While this provides a refreshed and alert appearance as well, it does not address muscle concerns.
The overall goal with ptosis repair is to improve eyelid position (height) so the eyelid does not disrupt your vision. So while it’s not a cosmetic procedure, it can certainly have the effect of improving your appearance.
If you need ptosis repair but also want to improve the appearance of your upper or lower eyelids significantly, contact the Institute of Dermatology & Oculoplastic Surgery about combining procedures.
In adults, ptosis repair requires only local anesthesia, and it’s typically a same-day procedure. During the surgery, your surgeon creates an incision in the upper eyelid skin (similar to blepharoplasty incision). In some cases, they can make an incision on the inside of the lid. Your surgeon will determine the best approach for you.
The specifics of your ptosis repair depend on the severity of your condition and your goals for the procedure. At the Institute of Dermatology & Oculoplastic Surgery, we will customize a surgical approach for your individual eyelid needs.
Schedule Your Consultation
If your eyelid droops and keeps you from seeing well, call the Institute of Dermatology & Oculoplastic Surgery or book a consultation using online booking now. As leading specialists in eyelid surgery in Sarasota, we are dedicated to improving our patients’ lives through effective, safe procedures. Book your consultation for ptosis repair today to start on the path to reclaiming your eyesight and appearance.