How to eliminate ptosis of the upper eyelid

Ptosis of the upper eyelid – this is not only an aesthetic problem that gives the face a tired look and significantly adds age, but also a physiological defect that leads to eye irritation, increased fatigue and visual impairment. Eyelid drooping can be a hereditary feature of appearance and a birth defect, and also develop later due to various diseases or due to gravitational ptosis in the elderly.  If ptosis of the upper eyelid interferes with the normal functioning of the eyes and impairs vision, it must be surgically corrected.

 Why ptosis of the upper eyelid develops

Ptosis of the eyelid requiring surgical intervention is considered to be an abnormal position of the eyelid leading to partial closure or even complete closure of the eye. In a normal state, the upper eyelid covers about 1.5 mm of the iris with its edge. If it falls by more than 2 mm or the drooping of the eyelid in one eye is much lower than in the other – they talk about ptosis of the upper eyelid.

There are only two main reasons why eyelid drooping can occur: either there is an anomaly of the muscle that normally raises the upper eyelid, or there is a disturbance in the work of the oculomotor nerve. This nerve signals the levator muscle to lift the eyelid. If for some reason the signal does not pass or is not perceived by the – there is a ptosis of the upper eyelid.

The danger of this cosmetic defect is that the drooping of the eyelid interferes with the normal functioning of the visual analyzer. The patient is forced to constantly throw back his head in order to see objects well. Due to the low position of the eyelid, the function of blinking is disturbed, so the eye gets tired, it becomes irritated and inflamed.

Factors contributing to ptosis of the upper eyelid:

• congenital underdevelopment of the levator muscles;
• congenital pathology of the oculomotor nerve;
• pregnancy pathologies, traumatic childbirth;
• injuries during ophthalmic operations;
• certain severe diseases of the nervous system (such as stroke or multiple sclerosis);
• muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis;
• mechanical damage to the upper eyelid (tears, wounds, hematomas);
• aging skin changes.

 Types of eyelid drooping and methods of its correction

Ptosis of the upper eyelid is classified according to different reasons, and each of them requires a special approach to correction. Thus, drooping of the eyelid can be congenital and acquired in the course of life, partial, incomplete and complete (accordingly, the eyelid covers part of the pupil, half or the whole), aponeurotic, mechanical, myogenic, neurogenic.

Therapy for ptosis of the upper eyelid involves, first of all, the elimination of the cause of its drooping, and then – cosmetic correction. In case of congenital ptosis, the levator muscle is corrected; in case of acquired ptosis – blepharoplasty of the upper eyelid is performed. With the right surgical tactics for correcting drooping eyelids, the result is preserved for life.