Ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid, which covers the eye more than normal. It can impair vision, give a tired appearance and, in children, threaten visual development. A precise assessment guides the treatment.
In adults
The most frequent cause is age-related disinsertion of the levator muscle (aponeurotic ptosis). The impact is functional (loss of the upper visual field, compensatory forehead wrinkling) and aesthetic. Treatment is surgical — see the ptosis surgery page. Ptosis of sudden onset, or associated with other signs (double vision, pupil abnormality), requires prompt assessment.
In children
Congenital ptosis is most often due to incomplete development of the levator muscle. The key issue is visual development: if the lid covers the pupil axis, there is a risk of amblyopia (lazy eye). Suggestive signs: head tilted back, chin raised to see. Regular ophthalmological monitoring is required, and surgery is performed earlier when vision is threatened.
Frequently asked questions
Ptosis or excess eyelid skin?
Ptosis (drooping of the eyelid margin) must be distinguished from dermatochalasis (excess skin), which is treated by upper blepharoplasty. The two are frequently associated and the clinical examination tells them apart; they can be corrected in the same operation.
Book an appointment
Consultations in Boulogne-Billancourt (Ophtalife) and Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Beaurepaire).