What is it
INFANTILE EYELID PTOSIS
Eyelid ptosis is the drooping of the upper eyelid that partially or completely covers the eye. This alteration of their normal position can affect the visual field, seriously interfering with the patient’s vision. When it occurs before the age of 8 it is called infantile eyelid ptosis.
This type of eyelid malposition in children occurs from birth, because it is usually of congenital origin and is usually related to poor development of the muscle that is responsible for raising the eyelid. On the contrary, in adults it is usually acquired by multiple causes (age, trauma, functional problems of the muscle, etc.).
There are unmistakable signs in children suffering from eyelid ptosis, such as tilting their head back to see better or even lifting their eyelid with their fingers. In general, there is difficulty in keeping their eyes open when they perform daily activities such as reading, writing, drawing, etc.
Treatment of Childhood Eyelid Ptosis
The treatment of childhood ptosis depends essentially on the age of the child and the degree of limitation of his or her visual field.
In mild cases, in which the eyelid does not cover the pupil, immediate correction is usually not necessary. However, when the eyelid completely prevents vision, and there is also a risk of developing amblyopia because the child cannot open the eye normally, it is necessary to go to surgery as soon as possible and exceptionally to ensure proper development and visual growth. In the rest of the cases, surgery is not usually performed before the age of 5 since the child is not yet able to be cooperative in the pre-surgical evaluation process and the anatomical structures to be restored are in full development.
The choice of surgical technique will depend on the function of the eyelid levator muscle and its objective is to recover its usual tone.
If any alteration in the normal position of the eyelids in children is suspected, it is necessary to go to a specialist ophthalmologist to carry out the first visual acuity assessment and rule out any abnormality that may affect the learning of vision. From this age, it is advisable that ophthalmological check-ups be repeated every year.
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