When Little Red Riding Hood noticed that her grandma’s eyes looked better, maybe it wasn’t because it was really the wolf after all. Maybe Red’s grandmother had just been suffering from ptosis and had gotten it treated via plastic surgery. And if that were the case, her eyes certainly would have been “all the better to see her with.” Here’s what you need to know about ptosis and its treatment.

What Is Ptosis?
Ptosis is a condition where your upper eyelid sags and droops into your eye. It is actually not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of a larger problem, such as weakened muscles, Horner syndrome (which damages nerves in your face and eyes), diabetes, or myasthenia gravis. Whatever the cause of the damage, your eye muscles and nerves are damaged, and this causes the eyelid to drop. While it may not seem like a big deal, this actually causes serious vision problems if left untreated.

It often occurs in children, and sometimes infants are born with ptosis. While it may not be a visible problem, your child might tilt their chin up or raise their eyebrows in an attempt to look past their sagging eyelids. In the first case, ptosis leads to more than just vision problems. The child’s head and neck may not develop properly or will become deformed thanks to the unusual positions the child will make in order to see.

Treat It for Better Sight and Looks
No matter your age, ptosis can help you see better and also help you feel better about your appearance. For the most part, this surgery is only undertaken if:

  • Your ptosis is seriously affecting your vision
  • The root cause of the ptosis has been treated

If it is simply weak muscles causing the problem, eyelid surgery is the best treatment. Extra skin will be removed and muscles will be repaired and tightened. It is a very delicate surgery, but you will start to see final (and permanent) results in just a few weeks.