Most patients who present with ptosis are good candidates for repair. As long as the patient is well and the eyelid healthy then the ptosis can usually be surgically repaired. Patients with moderate to severe dry eye are not good candidates for surgical repair, because elevating the eyelid position can make dry eye symptoms worse.
When a patient comes to my office with ptosis, I will evaluate the eyes for any medical conditions that may be underlying and causing the ptosis. Patients with an underlying condition is not a candidate for surgical repair. These include:
- Tumor around or behind the eye.
- Diabetes.
- Horner syndrome.
- Myasthenia gravis.
- Stroke.
- Swelling in the eyelid, such as with a stye.