DROOPY EYELID

Ptosis, commonly known as a droopy eyelid, is a pathological condition in which one or both eyelids are in a lower position than normal. This can cause both aesthetic problems, as it gives the patient a tired expression, and functional since the visual field is covered by the droopy eyelid.

A droopy eyelid can be congenital (present from birth) or acquired (occurring later in life). The most common cause of ptosis in adults is the slippage of the tendon that connects the levator muscle to the eyelid. This is often the result of old age, the use of contact lenses or trauma. However, ptosis can also occur in other neurological disorders, muscle diseases, or be the result of some mechanical damage to the eyelid.

A droopy eyelid can cause both functional problems, since part of the visual field is covered, and aesthetic problems.

In most cases, it is not. However, there are certain neurological diseases, as well as muscle diseases (myasthenia gravis) that can cause a droopy eyelid, which can even threaten the patient's life.

In addition, congenital ptosis can cause amblyopia (lazy eye) which means permanently reduced vision, as well as tilting the head back for the patient to see under the droopy eyelid.

Therefore, a timely diagnosis by a specialized oculoplastic surgeon is necessary.

In most cases, the treatment is surgical. The primary goals of the procedure are to restore the patient's visual field and achieve eyelid symmetry.

The choice of surgical technique depends directly on the function of the levator muscle (the muscle responsible for lifting the eyelid).

The procedure typically involves shortening the tendon through a small incision in the eyelid to raise its position.

In cases where the levator muscle is significantly weak, a frontalis sling (or suspension) is often required. This involves connecting the eyelid to the forehead muscle (frontalis) using a silicon rod (or sling) to assist in lifting the lid.

It is worth noting that in cases of congenital ptosis or other pathological conditions where the eyelid muscle is significantly weak, there is the option of eyelid elevation using a frontalis flap. This is an innovative technique in which Dr. Ioannis Chalkias has been specially trained in the United Kingdom and the United States.