Ptosis

Definition | Symptoms |  Treatment |  Clinic Information

Definition
Ptosis, or droopy upper eyelids or eyebrows, appears at birth (congenital) or develops with age (involutional). A child with congenital ptosis (pronounced "toe-sis") will tilt his or her head backward in order to see, so it rarely leads to poor vision. However, children with ptosis should be examined by an ophthalmologist because they can have other associated eye problems.

Symptoms

• Droopy upper eyelids or eyebrows

The symptom described above may not necessarily mean that you have ptosis. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor for a complete exam.

Treatment
Surgery to correct ptosis is commonly recommended in the preschool years to make it easier for children to see and to improve appearance. The type of surgery varies, depending upon how much the eyelids droop.

Clinic Information
For more information, see the Comprehensive Ophthalmology Clinic and the complete Clinic Services listing of the U-M Kellogg Eye Center.