Ptosis means to droop. Blepharoptosis refers to eyelid drooping. There area several approaches to fix a droopy eyelid, but as long as the levator muscle (the muscle that opens the eyelid) is working well then generally a levator “tightening” approach either through an external skin incision or through an inside of the eyelid approach may be used. The advantages to an internal approach are: 1) no skin incision (scar); 2) no cooperation needed by the patient during surgery (one can be heavily sedated or even asleep); 3) quicker recover usually; 4) no sutures need to be removed; 5) quicker surgery; and 6) oftentimes improved eyelid contour maintained. Both approaches carry an approximate 90% success on first attempt (first surgery). Dr. Burroughs performs both approaches and has published a surgical textbook chapter on external ptosis repair surgery when performed with upper eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) surgery.
This patient was very anxious about having her droopy eyelid repaired, and had undergone multiple prior eye surgeries for a corneal disorder. She responded in the office to an eye drop test with phenylephrine drops and had excellent levator function, so she chose the internal approach. Shown is her before and after result following an approximate 10 minute surgery by Dr. Burroughs. This patient was extremely pleased with her results and her visual function improvement.
