Abstract
Aponeurotic ptosis accounts for the majority of acquired ptosis encountered in clinical
practice. Other types of ptosis include traumatic, mechanical, neurogenic, and myogenic.
In addition to true ptosis, some patients present with pseudoptosis caused by globe
dystopia, globe asymmetry, ocular misalignment, or retraction of the contralateral
lid. It is particularly important for the clinician to rule out neurologic causes
of ptosis such as dysfunction of the third cranial nerve, Horner's syndrome, and myasthenia
gravis, as these conditions can be associated with significant systemic morbidity
and mortality. A thorough history and physical examination is necessary to evaluate
each patient presenting with a complaint of ptosis. Correctly identifying the cause
of the patient's complaint allows the ptosis surgeon to plan for appropriate surgical
repair when indicated and to defer surgery when observation or additional clinical
evaluation is warranted.
Keywords
ptosis - blepharoptosis - neurogenic ptosis
