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Ptosis Surgery for Drooping Upper Eyelids

Byron Long, MD provides oculoplastic surgery services at the Marietta Eye Clinic.

Byron Long, MD – Oculoplastic Surgeon

Ptosis is the drooping of the upper eyelid that can occur in one or both eyes. The levator muscle holds the eyelid in the correct position and allows the eyelid to move up and down. The levator tendon (the fibrous connection between the levator muscle and the lid) stretches, loosening its attachment to the eyelid and causing it to sag.

Ptosis can be congenital (present at birth) or it can come on gradually as a part of the normal aging process.

Causes of Ptosis

Ptosis can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

  • Aging– The natural aging process can cause the upper eyelids to droop. This is usually because of a weak eyelid muscle or tendon.
  • Congenital Ptosis– In some cases, the drooping eyelid was present at birth, but the condition was never corrected.
  • Eye Injury– An eye injury can cause damage to the muscle, tendon or nerve to the eyelid, causing it to droop. While this usually corrects itself during the healing process, eyelid surgery may be needed if the lid continues to droop after it’s healed.
  • Levator Palpebrae Superioris Weakness– Weakness in the upper eyelid muscle can cause the lid to droop.
  • Loose Eyelid Skin– Eyelid skin can become loose, causing it to droop.
  • Previous Eye Surgery– A previous eye surgery, like cataract surgery may result in the eyelid drooping. This may be due to a weakness in the tendon that attaches to the levator muscle.
  • Problems with the Eyelid Muscle– Weakness in the eyelid muscles can cause the upper lid to droop
  • Problems with the Nerves in the Eyelid– If the nerves in the eyelid are damaged, the eyelid could start to droop.

Treatment of Ptosis

If the ptosis is not bothering your vision, and you are not concerned with its appearance, then there is no need for treatment. If you decide to have the eyelid repaired surgically, the exact procedure used will depend on the cause.

If a levator tendon has pulled away from the lid, reattaching the tendon can correct the ptosis

If the muscle is weak, a surgical tuck will tighten the tendon to provide additional lift

Surgery to treat ptosis is usually performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthetic and takes less than 1 hour. Over-the-counter pain medication can reduce any discomfort you might have and applying ice should prevent excessive swelling. Patients vary in their response to surgery, but generally the swelling is gone within about two weeks.

When to Seek Ptosis Treatment

Most people seek out a ptosis surgeon because of cosmetic reasons or because the drooping eyelid is impacting their ability to see clearly.

Cosmetic Reasons

When people choose to have drooping eyelid surgery for cosmetic reasons, it means that they do not like how their drooping eyelids are affecting their physical appearance. They may feel that people judge them for their drooping eyelids, and it may be affecting their self-esteem.

Difficulty Seeing

Individuals with severely drooping eyelids may have to look through their eyelashes or physically raise their lids with their forehead muscles or fingers in order to see the entire view in front of them. When this happens, it means that the drooping eyelid is impacting their vision. This is a medical reason to have ptosis surgery.

Risks of Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid may not close properly for a few weeks after surgery

Increased exposure and air due to swelling can cause the eye and surface of the cornea to become dry, especially while sleeping (lubricating drops and ointments can alleviate dryness and discomfort)

Asymmetry between the eyelids if the levator muscle does not respond as expected

Choosing a Ptosis Surgeon in Marietta

When researching eyelid surgeons in Georgia, make sure you choose an oculoplastic surgeon. These are ophthalmologists who have completed a 1 or 2-year fellowship in plastic surgery of the eyelids and tissues around the eyes. We have trained fellowship trained oculoplastic surgeon on staff, Dr. Byron Long, to correct sagging upper eyelids. Contact us at 770-427-8111 to schedule an Oculoplastics Consultation.

 

Set Up A Consultation

When it comes to your eyes, nothing beats a face-to-face consultation with one of our eye doctors. Request an appointment to meet with one of our specialists.

CALL US 770-427-8111 Schedule an Appointment

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