When ptosis, or a droopy eyelid, is affecting your child’s vision and learning, our team of pediatric ophthalmologists will do whatever it takes to help your child achieve the best vision possible. If the ptosis is related to a neurological or another condition, we work closely with pediatric specialists around Nemours to treat your child’s vision problem.
Ptosis (“toe-sis”) or droopy eyelid may involve one or both upper eyelids. Sometimes an eyelid can be so droopy that it blocks vision or causes a child to hold his or her head in an abnormal position in order to see well. Ptosis may be present at birth (congenital) or show up later in life (acquired).
What are some of the causes of ptosis?
One of the most common causes of droopy eyelids is poor development of the muscle in the upper eyelid, but ptosis of the eyelid can also be caused by neurological conditions that affect the nerves and/or muscles of the eyelid, or rarely by an eyelid mass.