Evaluation of a Ptosis Patient
Ptosis (from Greek Ptosis or πτ?σις, to "fall") is a (drooping) of the upper or lower eyelid.
Overview
- The drooping may possibly be worse after being awake longer, when the individual's muscles are tired.
- This condition is frequently called "lazy eye", but that term normally refers to amblyopia.
- If severe enough and left untreated, the drooping eyelid can cause other conditions, such as amblyopia or astigmatism.
- This is a photograph of a patient with severe bilateral ptosis (Ptosis is sometimes referred to as Blepharoptosis. It refers to an eyelid which is droopy. This may possibly cause a loss of vision, especially while reading, headaches, and eyebrow strain.
Evaluation of patients with moderate (or better levator function) may possibly involve 2.5% phenyelphrine drops to assess the response.
When ptosis is asymmetrical (worse on one side) or unilateral, we must consider Hering's law of equal innervation
- Hering's law of equal innervation proposes that conjugacy of saccades is due to innate connections in which the eye muscles responsible for each eye's movements ar innervated equally.
- This theory is in contrast to the theory proposed by Von Helmholtz (1911) which states that conjugacy is a learned, coordinated response and that the movements of the eyes are individually controlled.
- Thus, if we surgical repair (raise) one eyelid, the OTHER eyelid may possibly in fact become droopy.
- As you slide the control from the left to the right, you will see the 'see-saw' effect of the ptosis as the RIGHT eyelid undergoes simulated elevation, and the left eyelid drops.
Herrings Law