After surgery, the upper eyelid is restored to its normal position. A child with congenital ptosis may tilt his or her head backward in order to see, so it does not always lead to poor vision. However, children with ptosis should be examined by an ophthalmologist because they can have other associated eye problems. Surgery to correct ptosis is commonly recommended in the preschool years to make it easier for children to see and to improve appearance. The type of surgery varies, depending upon how much the eyelids droop.
Involutional ptosis develops with aging.
It may worsen after other types of eye surgery or eyelid swelling. Ptosis may limit the field of peripheral vision and produce an uneven appearance. Surgery corrects the problem by shortening the muscle that opens the eyelid. Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin of the body, so it tends to stretch. In the upper eyelid, this stretched skin may limit the peripheral field of vision, and may produce a feeling of heaviness and a tired appearance.