Ptosis (eyelid)

Early fourteenth-century manuscript initial showing King Edward I of England and his wife Eleanor of Castile. The artist has depicted Edward's blepharoptosis, a trait he inherited from his father, King Henry III.

Signs and symptoms typically seen in this condition include:[2]

• The eyelid(s) may appear to droop.
• Droopy eyelids can give the face a false appearance of being fatigued, disinterested, or even sinister.
• The eyelid may not protect the eye as effectively, allowing it to dry out.
• Sagging upper eyelids can partially block the person's field of view.
• Obstructed vision may cause a person to tilt their head back to speak.
• The areas around the eyes may become tired and achy.
• Eyebrows may be constantly lifted to see properly.

Some of the risk factors for ptosis include:

• Eye tumor.
• Diabetes.
• History of stroke.
• Cancer.
• Neurological disorder.
• Age. Eye muscles weaken as they age, increasing the chance of the eyelids drooping.

Neurotoxic ptosis caused by botulinum toxin: a 14-year-old botulism patient with bilateral total ophthalmoplegia with ptosis (left image) and dilated, fixed pupils (right image). The teenager was fully conscious

Phineas Gage displayed ptosis after a large iron rod entered his left cheek, passed behind his left eye, and exited at the top of his head

Ptosis occurs due to dysfunction of the muscles that raise the eyelid or their nerve supply (oculomotor nerve for levator palpebrae superioris and sympathetic nerves for superior tarsal muscle). It can affect one eye or both eyes and is more common in the elderly, as muscles in the eyelids may begin to deteriorate. One can, however, be born with ptosis. This is due to improper development of the infant's levator muscle while still in the mother's womb. Congenital ptosis is hereditary in three main forms.[3] Causes of congenital ptosis remain unknown. Ptosis may be caused by damage to the muscle which raises the eyelid, damage to the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion or damage to the nerve (3rd cranial nerve (oculomotor nerve)) which controls this muscle. Such damage could be a sign or symptom of an underlying disease such as diabetes mellitus, a brain tumor, a pancoast tumor (apex of lung) and diseases which may cause weakness in muscles or nerve damage, such as myasthenia gravis or oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Exposure to the toxins in some snake venoms, such as that of the black mamba, may also cause this effect.

Ptosis can be caused by the aponeurosis of the levator muscle, nerve abnormalities, trauma, inflammation or lesions of the lid or orbit.[4] Dysfunctions of the levators may occur as a result of autoimmune antibodies attacking and eliminating the neurotransmitter.[5]

Ptosis may be due to a myogenic, neurogenic, aponeurotic, mechanical or traumatic cause, and it usually occurs isolated, but may be associated with various other conditions, like immunological, degenerative, or hereditary disorders, tumors or infections.[6]

Acquired ptosis is most commonly caused by aponeurotic ptosis. This can occur as a result of senescence, dehiscence or disinsertion of the levator aponeurosis. Moreover, chronic inflammation or intraocular surgery can lead to the same effect. Also, wearing contact lenses for long periods of time is thought to have a certain impact on the development of this condition.

Congenital neurogenic ptosis is believed to be caused by Horner's syndrome.[4] In this case, a mild ptosis may be associated with ipsilateral ptosis, iris and areola hypopigmentation and anhidrosis due to paresis of the superior tarsal muscle. Acquired Horner syndrome may result after trauma, neoplastic insult, or even vascular disease.

Ptosis due to trauma can ensue after an eyelid laceration with transection of the upper eyelid elevators or disruption of the neural input.[4]

Other causes of ptosis include eyelid neoplasms, neurofibromas or the cicatrization after inflammation or surgery. Mild ptosis may occur with aging. A drooping eyelid can be one of the first signals of a third nerve palsy due to a cerebral aneurysm, that otherwise is asymptomatic and referred to as an oculomotor nerve palsy.

Different trauma can cause and induce many different mechanisms. For example, myogenic ptosis results from a direct injury to the levator muscle and/or Müller's muscle. On the other hand, neurogenic ptosis is caused by closed head injuries, or traumatically-introduced neurotoxin (wasp/bee/snake venom) or botulinum toxin, due to the effect of those factors on the CNIII or the sympathetic pathway. Mechanical ptosis can also occur due to scarring tissue restricting the patient's eyelid excursion or weighing down the patient's lid.[9] Another mechanism is the disturbance of the oculomotor nerve causing the levator palpebrae to weaken, resulting in the eyelid drooping. Ptosis can also occur in a patient with brain tumors due to pressure on the third nerve, also known as the sympathetic nerve, on the brainstem.

Myasthenia gravis is a common neurogenic ptosis which could be also classified as neuromuscular ptosis because the site of pathology is at the neuromuscular junction. Studies have shown that up to 70% of myasthenia gravis patients present with ptosis, and 90% of these patients will eventually develop ptosis.[10] In this case, ptosis can be unilateral or bilateral and its severity tends to be oscillating during the day, because of factors such as fatigue or drug effect. This particular type of ptosis is distinguished from the others with the help of a Tensilon test and blood tests. Also, specific to myasthenia gravis is the fact that coldness inhibits the activity of cholinesterase, which makes possible differentiating this type of ptosis by applying ice onto the eyelids. Patients with myasthenic ptosis are very likely to still experience a variation of the drooping of the eyelid at different hours of the day.

Ptosis caused by oculomotor palsy can be unilateral or bilateral, as the subnucleus to the levator muscle is a shared, midline structure in the brainstem. In cases in which the palsy is caused by the compression of the nerve by a tumor or aneurysm, it is highly likely to result in an abnormal ipsilateral papillary response and a larger pupil. Surgical third nerve palsy is characterized by a sudden onset of unilateral ptosis and an enlarged or sluggish pupil to the light. In this case, imaging tests such as CTs or MRIs should be considered. Medical third nerve palsy, contrary to surgical third nerve palsy, usually does not affect the pupil and it tends to slowly improve in several weeks. Surgery to correct ptosis due to medical third nerve palsy is normally considered only if the improvement of ptosis and ocular motility are unsatisfactory after half a year. Patients with third nerve palsy tend to have diminished or absent function of the levator.

When caused by Horner's syndrome, ptosis is usually accompanied by miosis and anhidrosis. In this case, the ptosis is due to the result of interruption innervations to the sympathetic, autonomic Muller's muscle rather than the somatic levator palpebrae superioris muscle. The lid position and pupil size are typically affected by this condition and the ptosis is generally mild, no more than 2 mm. The pupil might be smaller on the affected side. While 4% cocaine instilled to the eyes can confirm the diagnosis of Horner's syndrome, Hydroxyamphetamine eye drops can differentiate the location of the lesion.[10]

Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a systemic condition which usually affects only the lid position and the external eye movement, without involving the movement of the pupil. This condition accounts for nearly 45% of myogenic ptosis cases. Most patients develop ptosis due to this disease in their adulthood. Characteristic to ptosis caused by this condition is the fact that the protective up rolling of the eyeball when the eyelids are closed is very poor.

A doctor will first perform a physical exam with questions about the patient's medical history to distinguish whether the condition may be hereditary. A slit lamp exam is performed with a high-intensity light that allows a close look at the patient's eyes. The doctor can also perform a test in which edrophonium is injected into a vein and the eyelids are monitored for resulting signs of improvement.

A visual field test, which assesses the degree to which the ptosis affects the superior vision, may be performed. Because nerve damage is among the possible causes for ptosis, the ophthalmologist will check the patient's pupil for abnormalities. The doctor will also check muscle function.

The ophthalmologist may also measure the degree of the eyelid droop by measuring the marginal reflex distance, which is the distance between the center of the pupil and the edge of the upper lid, as well as the strength and function of the patient's levator muscle. This test entails holding the frontalis muscle to measure how far the eyelid travels when the patient is gazing downward.

Through these tests, the ophthalmologist may properly diagnose ptosis and identify its classification, and a determination may be made regarding the course of treatment, which may involve surgery.[11]

Classification

Mild right eyelid ptosis

Depending upon the cause, ptosis may be classified into:

• Neurogenic ptosis, which includes oculomotor nerve palsy, Horner's syndrome, Marcus Gunn jaw winking syndrome and third cranial nerve misdirection.
• Myogenic ptosis, which includes oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, myotonic dystrophy, ocular myopathy, simple congenital ptosis and blepharophimosis syndrome.
• Aponeurotic ptosis, which may be involutional or postoperative.
• Mechanical ptosis, which is the result of edema or tumors of the upper lid.
• Neurotoxic ptosis, which is a classic symptom of envenomation[12] by elapid snakes such as cobras,[13] kraits,[14] mambas and taipans. Bilateral ptosis is usually accompanied by diplopia, dysphagia and/or progressive muscular paralysis. Neurotoxic ptosis is a precursor to respiratory failure and eventual suffocation caused by complete paralysis of the thoracic diaphragm. It is therefore a medical emergency and immediate treatment is required. Similarly, ptosis may occur in victims of botulism (caused by botulinum toxin), and this is also regarded as a life-threatening symptom.
• Pseudoptosis resulting from lack of lid support (empty socket or atrophic globe) or a higher lid position on the other side, as in lid retraction.

Hollywood actor Forest Whitaker has a left eye ptosis

Aponeurotic and congenital ptosis may require surgical correction if severe enough to interfere with the vision or if appearance is a concern. Treatment depends on the type of ptosis, and is usually performed by an ophthalmic plastic surgeon or a reconstructive surgeon who specializes in diseases and problems of the eyelid.

If the condition occurs in a child, then the doctor will delay the surgery until the patient is 4 or 5 years old. If the patient is under the recommended age for surgery, then the doctor will test if occlusion therapy can compensate for the patient's impeded vision. The reason for delaying the surgery until the patient is at least 4–5 years of age is the necessity of delay for the frontonasal and upper face to complete their complex growth. After this complex growth is complete, the doctors will be able to obtain a more accurate measurement of the conditions. However, if the patient's vision impediment worsens or proves unresponsive to the occlusion therapy, then surgery will be needed sooner.[15]

Surgical procedures include:

• Levator resection
• Müller muscle resection
• Frontalis sling operation (preferred option for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy)
• Whitnall sling

The frontalis sling surgery can only be done if the patient's ptosis condition is due to diseased or stretched-out muscles. The stretching-out of muscle is due to age. The frontalis sling surgery is done to either tighten or shorten the affected muscles, thereby allowing the process to raise the patient's lid's resting position. The procedure is done with the doctor using the sling to loop the material, then threading it underneath the patient's eyebrows and above the lashes.[16] Once the sling has been tightened, this allows the patient's forehead's muscle to aid in lifting the lid. The sling can be looped in a pentagon shape, triangle (singular or double) shape. Many different types of slings in the market today include monofilament nylon, silicone rods, polyester, silk, collagen, stainless steel or polypropylene.[15]

Frontalis sling surgery is considered the most effective surgical treatment for moderate to severe congenital ptosis.[17] Many different materials can be used for the surgery, though it is currently unclear which material has the highest success rate.

The levator resection and advancement surgery should only be considered for patients who are experiencing a levator function less than or equal to 5 mm.[15] The levator function is a measurement of the distance that the eyelid travels starting with the downgaze moving to the upgaze without moving the frontalis muscle.[18] Although this procedure can be completed through two different approaches, the internal and the external, the external approach allows the surgeons to obtain a better view of the surgical site during the procedure. The surgeon will begin with an incision on the eyelid. Once the levator has been exposed, the surgeon either fold it or cut it off before suturing it to the tarsal plate. During this procedure, it is up to the surgeon to decide the height and the contour of the patient's eyelid, with input from the patient.

The Whitnall sling procedure is done with an incision from the levator to the Whitnall ligament. Then the surgeon will suture the Whitnall's ligament connecting it to the superior tarsal edge. This procedure most likely is done if the patients are concerned about cosmetic appearance. The Whitnall sling procedure is able to provide a better cosmetic result because the procedure is able to keep the Whitnall's ligament intact. This allows the support of the lacrimal gland and temporal eyelid to be maintained.[19]

Despite the gains that the patient can obtain from the surgeries, there are risk factors. After the surgery, the patient may experience asymmetrical (uneven) eyelids. If the surgery was not done carefully, the patient may experience dry eyes owing to the eye no longer fully closing. The patient may also experience bleeding after the surgery and infections, if the surgical site is not taken care of properly.[20] On rare occasions, the patient will experience a loss in eyelid movement.[21]

Non-surgical modalities like the use of "crutch" glasses or ptosis crutches or special scleral contact lenses to support the eyelid may also be used.

Ptosis that is caused by a disease may improve if the disease is treated successfully, although some related diseases, such as oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, currently have no cures.

If the ptosis is left untreated, then patients may experience amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, which can permanently damage the patient's vision.[20] After careful observation and planning from specialists, ptosis can be successfully treated. Treatment like surgery will allow the patient to begin experiencing improvement in vision as well as cosmetic results. In a study of patients who were previously treated for ptosis, half required additional surgery within 8 to 10 years of the first surgery. If the ptosis is not related to major health issues (such as cancerous tumours or traumatic injuries), then the condition will not shorten the patient's life expectancy.[22]   

According to ophthalmology studies done on ptosis patients, occurrence rates are as follows. The average age for females experiencing aponeurotic ptosis is 67.83 years and the corresponding male average age is 68.19. The average age for congenital ptosis is 12.27 years for females and 8.57 years for males. The average age for mechanical ptosis is 49.41 years in females and 43.30 years in males. The average age for myogenic ptosis is 53.45 for females and 43.30 for males. The average age for neurogenic ptosis is 43.6 years in females and 32.62 years in males. Lastly, the average age for traumatic ptosis is 35.12 years in females and 33.4 years in males.[23] Ptosis was not found to have any overall gender or racial preference.[24]

Current studies have indicated that previous methods such as occlusion therapy and surgery are considered to be the most appropriate for treating this condition. Further studies are encouraged to be able to determine the optimal surgical indications. Any discoveries on approaches with dry eye will help further the oculoplastic surgeries.[25]

Ptosis is derived from the Greek word πτῶσις (ptōsis, "fall"), and is defined as the "abnormal lowering or prolapse of an organ or body part".

• Apraxia of lid opening
• Blepharophimosis

• The AMA Medical Guide, Random House, Inc. New York, 1997 ed.