Infantile palpebral ptosis

Infantile eyelid ptosis or droopy eyelid in children is an oculoplastic problem that is very common and generally congenital, that is, present from birth.

At present we have the necessary techniques to fix infantile eyelid ptosis in an integral way since this problem is not only aesthetic but over time it can cause certain pathologies in the patient.

Infantile palpebral ptosis

Infantile eyelid ptosis or droopy eyelid in children is an oculoplastic problem that is very common and generally congenital, that is, present from birth.

At present we have the necessary techniques to fix infantile eyelid ptosis in an integral way since this problem is not only aesthetic but over time it can cause certain pathologies in the patient.

What is infantile eyelid ptosis?

La palpebral ptosis o blepharoptosis It is a drooping of the upper eyelid that occludes the eyeball to a greater or lesser extent. When the patient has less than eight years, is called infantile eyelid ptosis.

By not being able to open the eye normally and not receiving the necessary visual stimuli, it is possible that over time you will suffer pathologies such as lazy eye.

Why swollen eyelid occurs in children

The reasons why a droopy eyelid appears in children are not usually the same as in adults. In young patients may be due to:

Congenital causes

In children, eyelid ptosis usually appears from birth, and is related to poor development of the levator eyelid muscle. It is not often related to another pathology but it does have a hereditary component.

infantile eyelid ptosis

Other causes

There are other less common causes of childhood ptosis, such as:

  • Neurological diseases such as Horner syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and myasthenia gravis.
  • Muscle diseases.
  • Local trauma.
  • Allergic reactions.

In rare cases, infantile blepharoptosis can appear quickly in a matter of a few days or a few weeks. When this occurs, the necessary tests are carried out to rule out serious diseases, such as intracranial tumors or aneurysms.

Symptom

Depending on whether it is a mild, moderate, or severe eyelid ptosis, the symptoms will be different:

  • Mild eyelid ptosis: can be reduced campor visual or be just an aesthetic problem with no other consequences.
  • Moderate or severe eyelid ptosis: the eyelid can cover an important part of the eye or do it completely, putting the child's visual acuity at risk. In these cases, it can lead to the appearance of a lazy eye.

It is essential that if a newborn has blepharoptosis, it is seen by a pediatric ophthalmologist. This specialist will analyze the degree of involvement, what type of palpebral ptosis is involved and what should be the treatment to be applied.

droopy eyelid kids

Transmission

There is only one definitive treatment for infantile eyelid ptosis, which is the operation. However, when its origin is genetic, there are cases in which it improves during the first two years of the child's life.

Will the ophthalmologist who decides if it is necessary to correct the drooping eyelid, taking into account factors such as the degree of it, the age of the child and if the problem occurs in one or both eyes.

In mild cases, regular observation of the patient may be sufficient. But when this is at risk of other pathologies, the pediatric ophthalmologist will assess the most appropriate way to treat the drooping eyelid according to the characteristics of the child.

If possible, the intervention can be delayed until the patient is three to four years old, since the results are more exact after that age.

There are currently two surgical options for the treatment of infantile blepharoptosis:

Levator resection

This technique is applied to patients in whom muscle function is good or fair. It is shorten the affected muscle to increase your lifting force.

When the muscle is not working properly, this procedure is risky as it can prevent the eye from closing completely.

Childhood Eyelid Ptosis Surgery

Frontal suspensory surgery is performed in patients with a poor or no function of the levator muscle. It consists of replacing the function of this muscle by the lifting action of the eyebrow since children who do not raise the eyelid well, usually compensate by raising the eyebrows.

For this operation, a non-stretchable material is used that joins the eyebrow of the affected side to the eyelid, raising it when raising the eyebrows, and thus allowing an adequate closure.

However, the material most tested in children is the fascia lata, graft taken from the leg through a 2-millimeter incision. This is a technique with a very low risk of infection.

Prevention of infantile eyelid ptosis

Congenital infantile eyelid ptosis cannot be prevented. However, it is essential to treat it in time so that it does not lead to pathologies such as lazy eye, blurred vision, child astigmatismsquint.

In addition, over time it can cause the tendon that connects the levator muscle and the eyelid to weaken and stretch excessively, causing the eyelid to drop excessively until it partially or totally obstructs the pupil in the most severe cases.

Summary
Infant Eyelid Ptosis: What it is and treatment
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Infant Eyelid Ptosis: What it is and treatment
Description
Infant palpebral ptosis or droopy eyelid is a disease that has a cure. Discover its symptoms, causes and treatment.
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Área Oftalmológica Avanzada
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