Ptosis can affect a child in many ways. It can cause the child to develop a lazy eye (amblyopic eye) with poor vision, which may be irreversible later in life. It can also affect the child’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
Depending on the severity of ptosis, the function of the muscle that lifts the eyelid and the age of the child, various surgical procedures are required. The aim of the surgery is to lift the eyelid to clear the visual axis so as to maintain visual development as well as to help improve the self-confidence and self-esteem of the child.
As with any operation there are risks, which range from infection bleeding and scarring, to more specific risks of either over or under correction of the eyelid height. There may be a mismatch in the contour or symmetry of the two eyelids and the result may not entirely match the patient’s or parents expectations. Sometimes further surgery might need to either to lift the eyelid further or to drop it down if it has been lifted too high, as it could cause exposure of the front of the eye, leading to infection with a threat to vision, but this is extremely rare.
It’s natural to feel anxious when it comes to treatment and surgical procedures especially in relation to your eyes. I encourage you to ask questions about your condition, so I can help you to be better informed of your condition, the treatment options available and allay any fears that you may have. During the consultation I will explain the procedures to you and help you to make positive choices, and remember there is always the option of doing nothing, so you have nothing to worry about.
