Treatment of ptosis
therapy
In the case of irreversible ptosis, aging processes or cases that have existed since birth, surgical eyelid correction is usually the focus. In this treatment, the lower edge of the upper eyelid is raised by removing a piece of eyelid or eyelid musculature and then suturing it. It is also possible to fold and sew the then shorter eyelid muscles. In more severe cases, attachment to the frontal muscle is also conceivable, after which the patient can control the opening of the eyes by frowning.
Read more on the subject at: Operation of ptosis
As a non-surgical therapy, there is the option of bridge glasses, which, with their specially adapted bridge, prevent the eyelid from sliding down.
Ultimately, in many forms of ptosis, the focus is on treating the causative disease, in which, depending on the severity of the nerve damage, the symptom of ptosis may also disappear again. However, if the damage is more severe or persistent, the ptosis persists.
When is an operation necessary?
In ptosis, the eyelid sags. In most cases, the upper eyelid hangs down just a little so that vision is still possible and it is only a cosmetic problem. In rare cases, however, it can also happen that the upper eyelid hangs down so much that it is no longer possible to see with the affected eye. As a result, the person concerned loses the possibility of 3-dimensional vision, which can lead to serious restrictions in everyday situations, for example when driving a car. In this case, an operation is urgently recommended, as it can enable an unrestricted everyday life.
You might also be interested in: Causes of Ptosis
In some cases, the cause of ptosis is not a paralysis of the nerve, but a rupture of the eyelid elevator muscle, often as a result of an accident. The muscle can then be sewn back together in a minor operation.
Read more on the subject at: Operation of a ptosis
Acupuncture - does it make sense?
The use of acupuncture for ptosis can be useful depending on the situation. The principle of this traditional Chinese treatment method is based on different conduction pathways and bundles of energy in the body. According to his hypothesis, the cause of ptosis is not only due to paralysis of the facial nerve (facial nerve palsy), but to disorders in these energy channels.
By using small needles in acupuncture, an attempt is made to find and manipulate these pathways so that the bundles of energy are strengthened again. In chronic ptosis, where no treatment has been successful, the additional use of acupuncture can be helpful. Despite everything, acupuncture should only be used as an additional measure in addition to the conventional medical treatment of ptosis.
Read more on the subject at: acupuncture
forecast
Apart from the small possibility that if the nerve damage has not lasted for too long, the ptosis will also regress after the cause has been eliminated, the success of an operation that has become necessary cannot be fully calculated.
In addition to the usual surgical risks, as with many plastic surgeries, there is a risk of under- or over-correction of the eyelid. As a result, the ptosis either persists, albeit to a lesser extent, or it is no longer possible to close the eye completely. In this case, eye drops must be used regularly to prevent the eyes from drying out. During sleep at night, special precautions should be taken and, under certain circumstances, another operation to correct the problem may be necessary.
