Is ptosis surgery advisable with slight eyelid insufficiency? (Photo)

Question

Due to some scar tissue after an upper eyelid blepharoplasty in 2004, a surgeon weakened the eyelid muscle in my right eyelid a bit in order to ease the contracted stare in that eye and enable it to close better. This worked very well, and the eyelid feels comfortable and closes better, but not quite all the way. I have developed some ptosis in that one eye recently. Is there a ptosis correction possible that would not shorten the eyelid and lead to more retraction?

Bhupendra C.K. Patel, MD, FRCS · Answer

Well, your statement says it all: "This worked very well, and the eyelid feels comfortable and closes better, but not quite all the way." The fact that the eyelids do not close all the way means that a ptosis correction will increase your lagophthalmos (inability to close your eyelids). Therefore, by definition, you will experience more dryness. Your surgeon can measure your tear film, your tear production and the health of your cornea to determine if a safe ptosis surgery can be performed.

Is ptosis surgery advisable with slight eyelid insufficiency? (Photo)

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