Home | General Information | E-Resources | E-Consultation | E-Learning | Site Map | ORBIS | Feedback
Home > E-Resources Home > QUESTION OF THE WEEK Home > Answers: 2010 Series Home > May 4, 2010
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
VIDEO LIBRARY
OPHTHALMOLOGY BOOKS & MANUALS
Nursing Education
Clinical Challenges
The Ophthalmology Minute
Eye Care Equipment
Ask a Professor
mLearning
ORBIS Program Features
FREE ONLINE JOURNALS
OPHTHALMOLOGY LINKS
I Have a Question

Print ViewPrint this Page
Answers: 2010 Series : May 4, 2010
December 28, 2010  |  December 21, 2010  |  December 14, 2010  |  December 7, 2010  |  November 30, 2010  |  November 23, 2010  |  November 16, 2010  |  November 9, 2010  |  November 2, 2010  |  October 26, 2010  |  October 19, 2010  |  October 12, 2010  |  October 5, 2010  |  September 28, 2010  |  September 21, 2010  |  September 14, 2010  |  September 7, 2010  |  August 31, 2010  |  August 24, 2010  |  August 17, 2010  |  August 10, 2010  |  August 3, 2010  |  July 27, 2010  |  July 20, 2010  |  July 13, 2010  |  July 6, 2010  |  June 29, 2010  |  June 22, 2010  |  June 15, 2010  |  June 8, 2010  |  June 1, 2010  |  May 25, 2010  |  May 18, 2010  |  May 11, 2010  |  May 4, 2010  |  April 27, 2010  |  April 20, 2010  |  April 13, 2010  |  April 6, 2010  |  March 30, 2010  |  March 23, 2010  |  March 16, 2010  |  March 9, 2010  |  March 2, 2010  |  February 23, 2010  |  February 16, 2010  |  February 9, 2010  |  February 2, 2010  |  January 26, 2010  |  January 19, 2010  |  January 12, 2010  |  January 5, 2010

To see views enlarged, click on the individual pictures...


This 69-year-old man has had ptosis of the left upper lid since childhood. Recently he has experienced drooping of the right upper lid. He uses frontalis contraction to help raise the lids. This is obvious in the picture. Levator function was measured at 10 mm in the right and 2 mm in the left. Vision is 4/60 (20/300) in the right eye (with cataract) and is 6/36 (20/60) in the left after cataract surgery done two years earlier. He is in good health otherwise and the remainder of the eye examination is unremarkable. Ocular motility is normal.

1. In addition to levator function noted above, additional information that would be useful is:

d -- (a) and (b)

In cases of ptosis, before considering surgery it is necessary to determine if corneal sensation is normal and if Bell response is intact.  These are two potential protective mechanisms for the cornea.  Both help protect the cornea in case of exposure from overcorrection.

2. The diagnosis in this case is:

a -- congenital ptosis, left eye, with levator dehiscence, both eyes

This man appears to have congenital ptosis in the left eye compounded by levator dehiscence in both eyes. This is supported by history, the disparity in levator function, and the extensive frontalis contraction.

3. Treatment would include:

e -- (c) and (d)

This man is likely to benefit from levator resection or advancement in the right eye and frontalis suspension in the left.