Ptosis Gallery Patient 333437

Severe Congenital Ptosis Treated in Early Infancy

This infant was born with severe congenital ptosis, a condition in which the upper eyelid droops so significantly that it blocks the visual axis. At just six weeks of age, the eyelid covered the pupil almost completely, placing normal visual development at risk during a critical period of infancy.

Because the eyelid was obstructing vision, we elected to proceed with early surgical correction. A silicone frontalis sling was created using a pentagonal configuration to allow the forehead muscle to help lift the eyelid and clear the visual axis.

The postoperative photograph was taken five days after surgery at ten weeks of age. Although there is still early healing and some postoperative swelling, the pupil is now visible and the eye has the opportunity to receive the visual input needed for normal development.

In cases like this, the goal is not cosmetic improvement. The priority is preventing deprivation amblyopia and preserving the conditions necessary for healthy vision as the visual system develops.

Photos used with family permission.