PTOSIS REPAIR (DROOPY EYELID SURGERY)
Ptosis (pronounced toe’ sis) describes a “droopy” or “lazy” eyelid where the edge of the upper eyelid (where the eyelashes grow) hangs down too close to the middle of the eye and obstructs vision, much like a shade pulled down partway over a window. More accurately, this condition is called blepharoptosis (bleph = eyelid + ptosis = droop, thus droopy eyelid). Importantly, this is NOT a problem of too much fat or skin or eyelid skin hanging too loosely, so removing eyelid fat or skin does NOT correct eyelid ptosis. This is a problem of an inadequate effect of the muscle, which raises the eyelid and determines the eyelid height. Therefore, appropriate ptosis repair requires a specialized surgeon to give you the best results.
Droopy Eyelids
Eyelid droop, or ptosis, may represent a weak muscle with which you were born, or it might occur as a result of repeated eye rubbing, contact lens use, trauma, eye surgery, or even just advancing age. Eyelid ptosis is most often a slowly progressive problem where the main eyelid-lifting muscle becomes partially detached from the skeleton of the eyelid. However, other more serious causes include progressive weakness of the muscle or of the nerve that controls the muscle’s action, and so every eyelid ptosis should be evaluated by a knowledgeable physician or eye doctor to be sure there is not a serious underlying problem.
Corrective Surgery for Ptosis (Droopy Eyelid)
Ptosis does not usually improve with time and nearly always requires corrective surgery. In fact, ptosis, which improves by itself, is also often indicative of an important medical problem and requires professional attention.
In order for a ptosis repair to be covered by insurance, certain very specific criteria must be met and documented in the medical record and with photographs. Although the criteria are clear, interpretation of this information and final approval or denial is in the hands of each insurance company. Most insurance companies require a medical pre-determination before surgical correction is performed, or they will not cover the procedure. An exception is Medicare, which does not provide pre-determination. However, a knowledgeable and experienced eyelid surgeon should be able to tell whether or not a person meets the Medicare criteria.
In general, ptosis correction strengthens or tightens the main muscle responsible for lifting the eyelid. In rare cases, if this muscle is especially weak, special procedures involving the eyebrow might be suggested.
We have performed thousands of these corrections. Ptosis repair is generally performed comfortably in the office in about 15 minutes under topical and local anesthetic, using a well-concealed incision of less than an inch within the eyelid crease.