If you have ptosis, one or both of your eyelids appear droopy. You might be irritated by your ptosis problems for cosmetic reasons, as a sagging upper eyelid can give you a tired or older appearance.
If your eyelids are hanging down into your field of vision, it’s not just your look that ptosis can affect. Having your pupils partially blocked by sagging lids can affect your vision and leave you suffering from eye fatigue or eye strain, as well.
Raymond Douglas, MD, PhD, specializes in diagnosing and treating ptosis from his office in Beverly Hills, California. If you have ptosis, or are concerned that you could develop this condition, consult with Dr. Douglas for your best ptosis repair treatment options.
Are you at risk for ptosis?
You’re more likely to develop ptosis as you get older as the muscles around your eyes stretch, weaken, or suffer from damage. However, children can suffer from ptosis, and babies can even be born with congenital severe ptosis.
Some people have a heightened risk of developing ptosis. The condition has genetic factors, meaning your family history could be relevant to your personal risk of sagging eyelids. If you have congenital ptosis, you’re also more likely to have lazy eye, which is also called amblyopia.
Trauma to your eye area can also increase your risk of developing ptosis down the road. If you’ve suffered from an injury that stretched your eyelid ligaments or muscles, or nerve damage affecting your eyelids, you could develop ptosis. It can also be a complication of eye surgeries and facial BotoxⓇ injections.
A few things you can do to prevent ptosis are to avoid rubbing your eyes and never use rigid contact lenses, because both are common culprits for damage-related ptosis in adults. However, not all cases of ptosis are preventable. With treatment, you can resolve your acquired or congenital ptosis.
Treatments to address your ptosis
With a blepharoplasty, Dr. Douglas can remove excess sagging skin from your upper lids. But, to address your ptosis and keep your condition from worsening, you’ll likely need surgical repairs to the levator muscle, which works to raise your upper eyelids.
Dr. Douglas performs minimally invasive ptosis repair procedures in order to minimize your recovery time. He makes an incision in your eyelid crease or the undersurface of your affected eyelid, so you won’t see any visible scarring afterward. After your procedure, you’ll need to take off from work for about a week to rest, and you should avoid strenuous activity for three weeks.
To learn more about your risks for ptosis and the right treatment plan to protect your vision and appearance, get in touch with us. You can schedule your initial consultation now by calling our office in Los Angeles, California, or book online at your convenience.