Contributors: Rachel Ellis MD, Andrew Goodfriend MD, Brandon D. Ayres MD, Christopher Rapuano MD, Harvey A. Brown MD, Sunir J. Garg MD, Lauren Patty Daskivich MD, MSHS
Blepharoptosis (eyelid ptosis) is when the upper eyelid falls below its normal position. When the eyelid falls to the pupil, ptosis can cause loss of the superior visual field or more extensive vision loss. It may also cause astigmatism if it changes the shape of the cornea. Patients may complain of having to manually lift their eyelid in order to see.
The eyelid can droop for a variety of reasons: a dehiscence of the levator muscle from the structural tarsal plate, a mechanical growth or swelling, muscle weakness, a neurologic deficit, or trauma.
Blepharoptosis can be congenital or acquired. Congenital blepharoptosis is usually due to an embryologic failure of development or weakness of the levator muscle. Careful examination of young patients is important to exclude various syndromes such as Marcus Gunn jaw-winking syndrome.
The most common form of blepharoptosis presents in the elderly and is due to the dehiscence of the levator aponeurosis insertion. This disinsertion may be attributable to a stretching of tissues with age, or it is sometimes associated with trauma, such as previous eye surgery where an eyelid speculum was used. These patients often have an elevated lid crease with a gradual lowering of the resting eyelid position. The levator function is typically normal.
An acute onset of blepharoptosis associated with headache, pupillary dilation, or extraocular dysmotility is suggestive of cranial nerve involvement. Mild blepharoptosis associated with miosis of the ipsilateral eye indicates Horner syndrome, which affects the sympathetic pathway.
Codes
ICD10CM: H02.409 – Unspecified ptosis of unspecified eyelid
SNOMEDCT: 11934000 – Ptosis of eyelid
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
Dermatochalasis
Eyelid edema
Brow ptosis
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.
