Ptosis is a condition of the eyes in which the upper eyelid begins to droop down. Typically caused by a weakness of the muscles that lift the eyelid, the condition can be compromised aesthetically. Below we look at if nerve damage can lead to ptosis.
Can Nerve Damage Lead to Ptosis?
One of the most common causes of ptosis is nerve damage. When the nerves of the body are compromised in one form or the other, the physical effects can be very far-reaching.
If you’re experiencing ptosis and are curious about whether the cause may have something to do with nerve damage, then you may end up looking into corrective ptosis repair surgery.
How To Recognize Ptosis
Ptosis is fairly simple to recognize overall. The main symptom is simply a drooping eyelid on either one or both eyes.
Ptosis is often indicated by very subtle changes in the patient’s vision. This is sometimes accompanied by a sense of tiredness and achiness around the eyes.
Overall, you’ll depend on your physician’s expertise to determine whether what you’re experiencing is ptosis or something else.
The Effects of Ptosis
Ptosis is a condition whose effects can be very far-ranging. Much of this depends on the severity of the condition.
If ptosis is mild, then it may simply represent an aesthetic issue. However, more serious cases can begin to interfere with one’s ability to navigate everyday life. This includes things like being able to drive safely.
Some of the telltale effects of ptosis include things like these:
- Partial or full obscurity of vision
- Increased tear production despite a feeling of dryness
- Visible changes in the skin surrounding the eyes
If you’re finding that ptosis is interfering with your day-to-day life, you may decide to seek out professional treatment regarding it.
In addition, children who are affected by ptosis risk long-term vision loss if the problem isn’t addressed quickly enough. For these reasons and more, it’s wiser to
Ptosis vs. Dermatochalasis
Ptosis is different from dermatochalasis, which is a term that simply describes the general loosening of the skin around the eyelids as time transpires.
Dermatochalasis can be attributed to several different effects and medical conditions and thus can be slightly difficult to pin down. There are many internal conditions that can produce dermatochalasis in the eyelids.
That being said, your physician will be able to determine if what you’re experiencing is ptosis rather than Dermatochalasis.
Nerves and Ptosis
The eyes are informed by a nerve known as the facial or “seventh” nerve. This nerve innervates what is known as the circumferential orbicularis oculi to close the upper and lower eyelids.
If this nerve becomes damaged, then the muscles and skin surrounding the eyes lose their integrity, leading to the drooping effect.
In addition, damage to the central nervous system can also impact muscles all over the body. Damage like this can lead to dysfunction in various sites depending on which area of the nervous system is affected.
Rectifying Ptosis
If the underlying cause of ptosis is some kind of disease, then dealing with the underlying disease will, in most cases, take care of the ptosis.
However, in the case of nerve damage, the go-to solution for fixing the problem is to perform Blepharoplasty.
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a highly effective technique to reduce or eliminate the effects of ptosis.
The eyelid surgery utilized to address ptosis is known as Upper Eyelid Surgery, as ptosis is a condition that affects the upper eyelids.
During upper eyelid surgery, your physician manipulates the skin and muscles surrounding the eyelids in order to restore a pleasing, symmetrical shape. In most cases, this is enough to eliminate the ptosis and restore the eye area to its former appearance.
Determining Your Eligibility for Eyelid Surgery
Before you launch into a blepharoplasty, you’ll have to consult with your physician about whether or not they think this is the right path going forward.
Generally speaking, most patients who are physically fit and healthy will qualify for eyelid surgery. Problems may arise if you have a history of chronic heart or lung disease or other serious chronic medical issues.
Things such as your family’s medical history and other relevant elements will be examined. Overall, there’s a very strong chance you will end up being approved.
Denver’s Ptosis Experts
McCracken Eye and Face has served the Denver area’s quality operations for years. If you’re suffering from ptosis and would like to look into having eyelid surgery performed, then schedule a consultation to discover why we’re the trusted experts of facial reconstructive surgery near you in Denver.
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