Ptosis


Disease modifying treatment available:
Time critical diagnosis and management:
Lateralising:


Synonyms

  • Drooping eyelid


Definition

Drooping of the upper eyelid is referred to as ptosis.




Taxotomy

Subclassifications Epidemiology Clinical features
Unilateral ptosis None
Bilateral ptosis None



Aetiology

Ptosis may result by several different mechanisms:
- Increase in weight of the upper eyelid (mechanical ptosis)
- Degeneration of the levator aponeurosis
- Damage to the third cranial nerve with innervates levator palpebrae superioris
- Damage to the seventh cranial nerve which innervated orbicularis ocularis
- Damage to the neuromuscular junction
- Myopathy

Disorder Clinical features Associated features Investigations Disease modifying treatment available Time critical
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Myotonic dystrophy type 1
Orbital cellulitis
Cataplexy Dysarthria
Fall
Coffin-Lowry syndrome
Möbius syndrome
Norrie disease

Causative drugs








Clinical features


None





Investigations


None

None


Laboratory Investigation Result

Treatment


The management of ptosis is dependent on the underlying cause.





Research


Open questions

None