Blepharoptosis is the phenomenon of drooping of one or both upper eyelids. In many cases, when the drooping is severe, this condition can even affect vision.
Apart from the aesthetic problem, in severe cases the patient has to lift his head or eyelid in order to see. Blepharoptosis is not a disease, but a symptom of another condition that needs to be treated.
Blepharoptosis can be congenital, i.e. present at birth, or acquired, i.e. caused later in life.
A congenital blepharoptosis is due to an abnormality of the elevator muscle, which lifts the eyelid. In this case, the muscle neither contracts nor relaxes normally.
The following factors may contribute to the onset of acquired blepharoptosis:
Advanced age: over time the tendon of the elevator muscle within the eyelid detaches from its position, leading to a drooping of the upper eyelid.
Manifestation of a neurological disease: an eyelid droop may be due to a malfunction of the nerve that controls the elevator muscle.
Eventual onset of myopathy: inherent muscle diseases are rare, and can also cause diplopia, e.g. myasthenia gravis.
Eyelid loss does not tend to cause Symptoms until the eyelid obstructs the patient's field of vision, presenting reduced peripheral vision.
The symptoms are worse when the patient looks up or is tired.
A compensatory effort is made to raise the eyelids by raising the eyebrows, and this in itself can lead to pain above the eyebrows or a severe headache.
Η treatment varies depending on the cause of eyelid loss. If diabetes is the cause, your doctor will explain what to do, but if it is myasthenia, he or she will give you medicines that may improve the symptoms of the disease.
In cases of congenital blepharoptosis, you may need surgery. Immediately after the surgery you may have problems opening and closing your eyes, but this function will soon return. Children who have blepharoptosis have an increased risk of developing amblyopia. Treatment for amblyopia involves closing the ‘strong’ eye to allow the other eye to function better.
