Ptosis - what is it? What ailment has such a resounding name? The name of the disease comes from the Greek language: ptosis, which means "fall." This term is most often used by ophthalmologists when it comes to lowering the upper eyelid below the iris by more than 2 mm. Ptosis can affect both adults and children. A person can be born with this defect or acquire it throughout life.
Gravitational ptosis is also distinguished, it covers the entire face as a whole, and some people, especially women, perceive it as a serious problem.
Manifestations of ptosis and its symptoms
The signs of the disease depend on its origin and causes, but the most striking manifestations of the symptoms are the low location of the eyelids on one or both eyes, and also because of the inability of the eyelid to move, the inability of a person to cover his eye completely. Consequently, the eyeball does not get wet, hence the redness and pain, the sensation in the eyes of sand. Sometimes there is a visual impairment, its decline, the image begins to fork.
It happens that the disease is accompanied by strabismus, deviation of vision to the side, inflammation. The patient, trying to open his eye, throws back his head to raise his eyelid or raises his eyebrows using the muscles of his forehead, which causes wrinkles to form on him. In
Horner's syndrome, along with a drooping eyelid, enophthalmos (drooping of the eyeball) and myosis
(the pupil narrows) are observed
.
Types of Ptosis
A person can be born with this disease - this ptosis is called congenital. And if he appears throughout life, then this is an acquired ailment.
Its severity also varies: if the eyelid completely covers the eye, then this is complete ptosis. In the case of covering the century more than half - incomplete. And partial, when the eyelid drops, covering the eyeball by a third.
The degree of eye damage also varies: unilateral ptosis, if only one eye is affected. And bilateral, when both eyes are covered by a disease.
Congenital ptosis
The disease can occur due to hereditary genetic factors or pathology of the development of the embryo, in which dystrophy of the muscle that lifts the eyelid occurs, or aplasia of the nucleus of the oculomotor nerve. In some cases, normal function is retained in whole or in part. This defect is most common with congenital changes. They can affect one eye, less often both.
Ptosis is determined almost from the very birth of a child, especially with its bright manifestations. If the changes are insignificant, then he is diagnosed in a few months.
Acquired ptosis
The appearance of ptosis in a person at an older age is due to a number of reasons and it is divided by type of lesion:
- Aponeurotic occurs due to stretching and weakening of the aponeurosis of the muscle responsible for raising the eyelid. The reason may be the natural processes of aging, as well as trauma, severe swelling, the consequences of operations.
- Neurogenic can occur due to disorders in the nervous system due to its diseases and injuries. Most often, paralysis of the oculomotor nerve occurs as a consequence of diabetes, tumors, intracranial aneurysms.
- Mechanical ptosis of the eyelid is the consequences of deformation of the eyelid due to scars, tears, and foreign bodies.
- It seems when an excess fold is formed on the eyelid.
- Anophthalmic: in the absence of the eyeball, the eyelid drops, as it does not find support.
Diagnosis of ptosis
When diagnosing and choosing treatment, it is important to establish the etiology of the occurrence of the disease, its origin and type. Because it is congenital or acquired, the methods of treatment depend. To do this, a patient is questioned and it is found out if his immediate family did not have the same ailment in order to exclude his genetic origin.
The doctor carefully examines the patient and reveals muscle strength, mobility of the eyebrows and eyelids, his position relative to the pupil, the presence of astigmatism, the size of the skin fold, determines the level of vision of the patient, his intraocular pressure.
Checks amblyopia, it is especially important to determine its level in children. After the diagnosis of ptosis of the eyelid is made, treatment is prescribed immediately.
Effects of ptosis
Ptosis of the century is a problem that is not only cosmetic in nature. It is dangerous with possible consequences arising from the inability of the century to move freely. Inflammation of the eyeball is not ruled out, strabismus develops, and vision deteriorates. Children, trying to cover their eyes, often do it with their hands, which carries the risk of infection.
So if the disease has manifested itself, then a timely visit to the doctor and treatment will correct the situation.
Ptosis treatment
It should be understood: if the diagnosis of ptosis is made, that this is a disease in which treatment is prescribed depending on its type and origin. If it appears at an older age, an integrated approach is needed, and if necessary, a neuropathologist is involved.
The disease itself is cured quite rarely, so it is important to begin to eliminate it as soon as possible, and, as a rule, surgery is recommended: ptosis is eliminated by surgical correction of the eyelid.
For the most part, it is based on tightening or strengthening the muscles of the eyelid lifting it. Ophthalmic surgeons perform the operation, combining with blepharoplasty. Commonly used local anesthesia in adults and general anesthesia in children. The duration of the procedure varies from 30 minutes to an hour, but sometimes it can last up to 2 hours. It depends on the complexity of the problem, the level of omission of the eyelid.
The operation is available at any age, therefore, with congenital pathology, it is recommended that children do it as soon as possible. But up to 3 years, it is contraindicated, since at this time an eye incision is established , and the eyelid is in the formation stage. In order to prevent strabismus and amblyopia as a temporary measure, it is recommended to glue the eyelid during the day with a band-aid until the operation is performed.
Ptosis of the upper eyelid often does not leave visible consequences, if everything was done qualitatively, and a highly qualified surgeon.
Performing eyelid correction, you should be aware of the possible consequences and postoperative complications. For several days after the operation, soreness of the eyelids and loss of mobility by them, pain in the eyes, their dryness and inability to close their eyelids are possible. A few days will pass and these symptoms will go away. But sometimes asymmetry of the eyelids, their inflammation and bleeding wounds may appear.
Facial ptosis - what is it?
With age, the quality of collagen fibers changes, their number decreases, the muscles that support the oval of the face weaken, as a result of its contours, under the influence of Earth's gravity, they fall down, as if they were floating around. Such changes are called gravitational ptosis.
First, the nasolabial folds deepen , the corners of the mouth and eyebrows fall. Over time, the nose and ears even drop, the lower part of the face becomes heavier and saggy. A second chin appears, folds form on the neck. In this case, the diagnosis is ptosis of the face.
Gravitational Ptosis Treatment
Of course, no one has managed to escape old age, but to reduce its manifestations completely in human power. In order to avoid the diagnosis of “face ptosis”, a woman needs to take measures that can fight aging from the age of 35, and sometimes earlier, only at the first signs of change. It is necessary to direct all forces to increase and maintain the tone of the facial muscles.
Cosmetic science has in its arsenal many tools that help strengthen facial muscles and rejuvenate the skin. These are physiotherapeutic procedures, which include regular and fibrovascular massage, electrotherapy, and ultrasound exposure.
An additional tool is the course application of peeling procedures.
In case of facial ptosis, the activation of the upper layers of the skin is insufficient: it is necessary to influence the deeper structures of the muscular aponeurotic system that holds the face frame. In this case, gymnastics is effective, containing a set of exercises that affect this particular area.
If all possible means have been tried, but the desired effect has not been achieved, and ptosis of the face does not recede, then you can try botulinum therapy: it is aimed at distributing muscle traction, towards the upper part of the face.
With an excess of skin flap, injections of hyaluronic acid, potassium hydroxyapatite are also used: introduced along the contour of the face, they significantly increase the elasticity and turgor of the skin.
Contour plastic, photothermolysis, photorejuvenation are used in the treatment of gravitational ptosis. But these procedures are not always effective, therefore, in the fight against this shortcoming, the most effective way is prevention.
Having become acquainted with such a phenomenon as ptosis (what it is and its possible consequences), you must always remember about timely treatment and prevention of diseases, then possible troubles in the future can be avoided.