adoptspecialneeds.org

FACTS:

• Ptosis is a condition in which one or both of a child’s upper eyelid droops.
• It is caused by a poorly developed levator muscle (this is the muscle that lifts the eyelid upwards).
• The eyelid may droop slightly or it may cover the pupil and impairing sight.
• Rarely ptosis is present in both eyelids and this is sometimes referred to as "too tight eyes".
• If children cannot easily see beyond their eyelids, they will often tilt their head backward in order to be able to better see.  Sometimes they will wrinkle the forehead to lift the eyebrows upward to allow better vision.
• If the condition is severe the child’s sight may not develop properly and the child can develop “lazy eye”-- a condition where the brain only uses the images from the good eye. 
• Most children with this condition have normal intelligence and functioning.
• If the condition interferes with sight, surgery is needed and their eyesight can be corrected

TREATMENT:

• Surgery is usually required to correct ptosis.
• It is important to do surgery as early as possible if the eyelid is not allowing the child to see -- as the child may lose the ability to see after a few years.
• Children with this condition should be seen by an eye doctor