Ptosis Archives - Jessica Lattman, MD

Droopy Eyelids Ptosis – Case Study

Jessica Lattman, MD — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:05:16 +0000

This is a fantastic case study of a young man who was born with droopy eyelids. He was bothered by his constantly tired appearance. Even after a good night’s sleep, his droopy eyelids still made him look tired which was affecting his work. It began to bother him more recently with the constant Zoom calls and close-up video.

I performed a joint case with Dr. Benjamin Paul. I did a bilateral ptosis repair and Dr. Paul performed a chin implant, neck liposuction and buccal fat removal.

In the post op views you can see the patient’s eyelids are in a great position. He looks awake and the eyelids are perfectly symmetrical. I maintained his eyelid shape and natural appearance.

Dr. Paul’s work gave him a defined jawline and more of a V-shape to his face. Overall, the patient was thrilled and returned to work and zoom calls with more confidence and a bright-eyed appearance.

Call us at (212) 832-5456 or request online that we call you back by submitting our online request form here.

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Case Study – Ptosis

Jessica Lattman, MD — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:14:47 +0000

This is a wonderful case study of a 53-year-old woman who suffered from ptosis of both upper eyelids. She came to my office bothered by her droopy upper eyelids. The lids were so low that they were interfering with her daily activities. It became hard to read or work at a computer for extended periods of time. Also, she was bothered that no matter how much sleep she got, she still looked tired!

This patient was born with her eyelids in a normal position, but over time the lids dropped. Typically, 53 is young to have such severe ptosis, but some people have a genetic predisposition for the muscle that opens the eye to be stretched over time.

I performed a ptosis repair on both upper eyelids. The technique I used tightens the muscle from behind the eyelid, so there is no incision in the skin. This is a great option for patients who need to get back to work or be out and about quickly. It is a much faster recovery time than the “exterior” approach which requires an incision across the lids and sutures in the skin for a week. There is also no scar on the lid with the internal approach.

This patient was thrilled with her new eyelids. Not only did she see better, she also felt more refreshed and less tired all the time. Her friends and family commented that she looked like she had taken a long and relaxing vacation!

Call us at (212) 832-5456 or request online that we call you back by submitting our online request form here.

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Congenital Ptosis- Case Study

Jessica Lattman, MD — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:20:02 +0000

Congenital ptosis is a condition in which a child is born with one or both eyelids that droop. If the droop is severe and affects visual development, then the droop is always repaired early in childhood.

For less severe ptosis, or where visual development is not affected, the droop is often not surgically repaired until it becomes a cosmetic issue. This is a case of a 22-year-old who was born with a drooping left upper eyelid. He had unsuccessful surgery to repair the droop when he was 15 by another surgeon. After that failed surgery he was scared to have another procedure so he lived with the droop even though he was extremely self-conscious.

This post-op photo is one month after a successful ptosis repair that I performed. You can notice that there is excellent symmetry and the eyelid is in a normal position. The patient was absolutely thrilled with his beautiful result.

Call us at (212) 832-5456 or request online that we call you back by submitting our online request form here.

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Ptosis – Frequently Asked Questions

Jessica Lattman, MD — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:02:04 +0000

What is Ptosis and does it affect vision?

Ptosis is a condition when the eyelid drops down and covers part of the eye. If the eyelid drops far enough to cover some of the pupil then it may affect the peripheral vision. Ptosis can be present at birth or it can develop later in life. If the ptosis is severe in young children it can affect the development of normal vision. In adults ptosis can block vision and be bothersome while reading or driving. Adults and children often try to compensate for the droopy eyelid by using the forehead muscles to help lift the eyelid.

Who is a candidate for surgical repair of ptosis?

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.

Who is the best doctor to repair ptosis?

Ptosis should always be repaired by an oculoplastic surgeon trained in this procedure. The eyelid anatomy is complex. Ptosis surgery requires years of training and expertise to perfect. It is important that your surgeon has many years of experience performing surgical ptosis repair.

Call us at (212) 832-5456 or request online that we call you back by submitting our online request form here.

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What Is Ptosis?

Jessica Lattman, MD — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:33:05 +0000

Ptosis is a drooping or falling of the upper eyelid. It can affect one or both eyes. The two main categories of ptosis are:

Congenital
Acquired

Congenital ptosis is present at birth and occurs when the levator muscle (which lifts the eyelid) does not develop properly. Babies are born with a drooping eyelid. Sometimes there is just a small droop and sometimes the eye barely opens at all. If the lid is blocking the visual axis, then the ptosis must be fixed so normal visual acuity develops.

Acquired ptosis is more common than congenital ptosis. There are 5 types of acquired ptosis. The first is aponeurotic ptosis. In this category of ptosis, the tendon of the levator muscle of the eyelid becomes stretched. This usually happens due to aging or long-term hard contact lens use.

Neurogenic ptosis occurs when there is a problem with the nerve pathway that controls movement of the eyelid muscle. Causes of neurogenic ptosis include myasthenia gravis, third nerve palsy, and Horner syndrome.

In myogenic ptosis, the levator muscle is weakened due to a systemic disorder that causes muscle weakness. These conditions may include chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia and other types of muscular dystrophy.

If you think that you have ptosis, a full evaluation in the office can diagnose the severity and type. A minor surgical procedure can repair most categories of ptosis. Call us at (212) 832-5456 or request online that we call you back by submitting our online request form here.

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