When we think of vision, we think of our eyes and the structures that comprise them. But your eyelids play a role in vision and eye health, too.
If your child has drooping lids — a condition known as ptosis — it’s important to make an appointment to get an evaluation as soon as possible. While ptosis can vary in its severity, most children benefit from surgery to correct the lid drooping and prevent further lid problems.
The team at ABC Children's Eye Specialists uses advanced techniques to evaluate and correct drooping lids, providing ptosis treatment that focuses on helping your child enjoy optimal vision and eye health as they grow and develop. Here, learn the basics of ptosis and what we can do to correct it.
Most kids who have ptosis have congenital ptosis — meaning that it’s present at birth. This type of ptosis might not be noticeable initially, but it becomes more obvious as your child grows and develops. Less often, kids develop ptosis later from an injury or disease, a condition called acquired ptosis.
Ptosis occurs when the muscles that support and elevate the eyelids don’t function the way they’re supposed to. One or both lids may be affected.
While adults can develop ptosis, too, the condition is especially concerning in kids, where even a minor droop can affect vision development and take a toll on school performance and learning. Ptosis also dims a child’s confidence and self-esteem, making it harder to socialize in some instances.
Ptosis might not seem like a major concern, especially if it’s relatively mild. But even “a little” drooping can cause more severe vision problems, like amblyopia. Ptosis can also be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition, including progressive conditions that affect the muscles or nerves.
Prior to recommending any type of treatment, our team performs an in-depth evaluation of your child’s ptosis and their vision in general. In some instances when drooping is minimal, we may recommend observation initially, once underlying problems are ruled out.
But to correct ptosis and prevent future problems, we typically recommend eyelid surgery. Conservative treatment options, like eyelid exercises, eye patches, or corrective lenses, can’t correct ptosis, which is why surgery plays such an important role in ptosis treatment.
Ptosis surgery (or blepharoplasty) uses tiny incisions to access the eyelid muscles. During surgery, we gently lift the muscles and reposition them so they support normal lid function and position.
If ptosis has resulted in vision issues like amblyopia or other problems, we also provide appropriate treatment to address those issues and improve your child’s vision.
If your child shows signs of ptosis or exhibits any unusual vision or eye-related symptoms, prompt care is essential for preventing more serious vision issues, as well as issues with development, learning, and socialization.
To learn how we can help, call our offices to book an appointment with the team at ABC Children’s Eye Specialists in Phoenix, Avondale, and Mesa, Arizona, today.
