Drooping of the upper eyelids: worthy ways to fight back. Can ptosis be treated at home? Non-surgical eyelid lift methods

PTOSIS upper eyelid- a fairly common symptom, characterized by the drooping of one or two upper eyelids at once due to a decrease in muscle tone or impaired nerve patency.

ptosis of the century independent disease does not pose a significant health hazard, but is significant aesthetic disadvantage and often creates tangible visual problems. At severe violation innervation, patients often have to raise their chin and eyebrows high in order to open the pupil and see objects.

Now in more detail about what ptosis of the upper eyelid is, what are its causes and whether correction is possible.

Causes and etiology

There are both congenital and acquired types of the disease. Definitely congenital is recognized by specialists as bilateral ptosis, when the overhang of the upper eyelid is present on both the left and right eyes.

Possible congenital and acquired type of disease. No more than 25% of people suffering from the disease are characterized by congenital drooping of the upper eyelid. The reasons are mainly genetic. Less commonly, ptosis is the result of birth injury. Quite often, the congenital type of the disease is associated with other visual anomalies: strabismus and amblyopia.

If PTosis does not accompany other eye diseases and is caused only by underdevelopment of the muscles of the upper eyelid, then it is dominant in inheritance. As a rule, in the presence of PTOSIS in one of the parents, the defect is transmitted to the child as a dominant trait.

Less common are cases in which the drooping of the upper eyelid is caused by pathologies optic nerve. For a patient with this picture of the disease, the so-called "stargazer's position" is characteristic - a constantly raised chin or raised eyebrows.

Sometimes congenital ptosis of the upper eyelid is associated with a rare genetic pathology known as palpebromandibular syndrome. With it, the muscles of the upper eyelid are innervated by the action of the muscles of the jaw, in other words, the eyelid opens completely when a person chews. Most often, the disease is associated with strabismus and underdevelopment of one of the eyes.

Another rare genetic disorder that causes droopy eyelids is blepharophimosis.

This disease is characterized by underdevelopment palpebral fissure- it is abnormally short and does not allow either lowering or raising the eyelids. At the same time, the presence of double blepharoptosis is noted - both eyelids are closed by more than 2.3 mm, which creates significant difficulties for vision. With blepharophimosis, there may be an eversion of the lower eyelids.

To stop or minimize the manifestations of congenital PTOSIS is possible, as a rule, only surgically.

Acquired ptosis of the upper eyelid is much more common. The causes of the disease can be due to both serious neurogenic disorders, and simple mechanical obstacles when opening the eyelids.

Neurogenic PTOIS is characterized by the presence of diabetic brain pathologies and tumors that compress the oculomotor nerve. The eyelids may close completely. With PTOSIS of the upper eyelid caused by pinching oculomotor nerve treatment is aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disease. In some cases (for example, in the treatment of corneal lesions), specialists cause complete drooping or significant overhanging of the upper eyelid artificially by squeezing the oculomotor nerve surgically.

If significant damage to the tendons has occurred in the tissues of the upper eyelid, the muscles of the upper eyelid lose their tone - this picture of the disease is characteristic of aponeurotic PTOSIS. As a rule, drooping of the eyelids in case of damage to the tendons occurs due to injuries and after the ingress of foreign objects.

Almost always, acquired PTosis accompanies myasthenia gravis - a disease in which the fibers of the muscles of the body, including the oculomotor muscles, lose their tone due to the presence of antibodies in muscle tissue eyelids. With myogenic PTOSIS, the eyelids of both the left and right eyes droop. In the diagnosis of the disease, endorphin is used, after its administration, the symptoms (including bilateral ptosis) disappear for a while.

Often atony of the muscles of the eyelid is a consequence of diseases nervous system including stroke and meningitis.

Neurogenic PTOIS also causes Horner's syndrome - a specific lesion of the sympathetic nervous system with paralysis cervical nerve. In the treatment of PTOSIS of a neurogenic nature, efforts are directed to general recovery- do cosmetic surgery, struggling with the consequence of the underlying disease, experts do not recommend.

Mechanical drooping of the eyelids is characteristic of tumors, foreign body and tissue scarring due to trauma.

Diagnosis in PTOIS

When the upper eyelid overhangs, the specialist must clearly understand the etiology of the disease, the diagnosis comes down to finding the causes. If there is a drooping of the upper eyelid, the reasons may be different. At congenital PTOSIS treatment tactics are reduced to minimization and relief of symptoms, in case of acquired - to the elimination of primary causes.

First, the specialist differential diagnosis, should be excluded infectious diseases and paresis.

Next - a detailed survey and collection of anamnesis. The specialist receives information about cases of the disease in the family, as well as the presence (or absence) of third-party pathologies that can cause or provoke drooping of the eyelids. If ptosis of the upper eyelid is noted, only a doctor can determine the cause.

During the diagnosis, an ophthalmological examination is mandatory to identify possible violations, check visual acuity and the degree of intraocular pressure.

In cases of an acquired disease, a specialist often refers the patient to CT and MRI, sometimes PTOZ serves primary symptom neoplastic diseases brain.

Treatment Methods

Treatment of ptosis of the upper eyelid is carried out both conservatively and surgically. What to do in a particular case, only a doctor can tell. Many try to carry out treatment at home without diagnosis and supervision by a specialist.

Conservative method - treatment without surgery. This method is used to restore lost muscle tone and nerve conduction. How to treat such an ailment? The set of activities includes:

1. Physiotherapy.
2. Muscle and nerve stimulation (using galvanic current)
3. Application special plaster for mechanical lifting of the eyelid. Significantly exacerbates cosmetic imperfections, but must be avoided further complications especially for children.
4. laser therapy.

According to experts, conservative treatment measures rarely end in success, but are quite effective in the treatment of neurogenic PTOSIS, when the disease is caused by pinching of the oculomotor nerve. With blepharophimosis and scars on the tissue of the upper eyelid, only surgical intervention is indicated, in other cases, eyelid surgery is prescribed after 6 months conservative treatment turned out to be ineffective.

Correction of PTOSIS of the upper eyelid almost always involves surgery.

Especially operational way treatment is indicated for children prolonged absence adequate treatment as they grow older, it can turn cosmetic defect into a progressive disease.

Tactician surgical treatment several. If a upper eyelid sank and almost lost mobility, the surgeon is trying to cure and raise it by suturing it from above (to the forehead muscle). This method of treatment is not very effective, but practically devoid of complications. Sometimes this surgery is performed on children (when the eyelid droops) as an intermediate step to reduce the risk of visual impairment.

In the case when the overhanging eyelids are mobile, the surgeon resorts to muscle resection. Through a small incision, the doctor removes a small area of ​​skin and cuts the muscle that lifts it. A decrease in the volume of muscle tissue does not allow the eyelid to spontaneously fall.

In most cases postoperative recovery passes quickly enough and without complications - the sutures are removed as early as 3-5 days after the operation.

The prognosis is generally favorable, repeated interventions after blepharoplasty are almost never carried out, the effect persists for life.

Home and traditional methods

Many decide to treat ptosis at home without supervision by an ophthalmologist. The disease has been known for a long time, so treatment folk remedies- a very common occurrence.

In order to increase the therapeutic effect in home treatment, several methods are usually used at once.

Common and inexpensive remedy- lifting mask based on natural ingredients:

1. Egg yolk is mixed with sesame and olive oils applied to the skin of the eyelid for 20 minutes.
2. Finely grated and chilled potatoes are applied for 15-20 minutes. According to practitioners, the colder, the more effective.
3. Grated thyme and chamomile are applied to the eye for 15-20 minutes. Really, natural antiseptic as part of chamomile, it can eliminate inflammation, which often occurs during the use of other folk remedies.

The use of masks is possible and gives a certain therapeutic effect, but in the case of PTOSIS of neurogenic or genetic etiology, such methods will be powerless, since they do not eliminate the root cause of the disease.

Therapeutic gymnastics and massage

More effective method. Can render positive influence even with a congenital type of disease, if it is associated with low muscle tone. To achieve the effect, you need to do gymnastics regularly for quite a long time.

1. Start with a warm-up: you need to open your eyes as wide as possible, in a circular motion examine the space around you and squint. Repeat 5-6 times.
2. Keep your eyes open as wide as possible for 10 seconds. Close your eyes tightly for 10 seconds. Repeat 5-6 times
3. As a second exercise, the eyebrows are brought to the bridge of the nose with the index fingers and repeated until the muscles ache.
4. Final exercise - index finger stroke the eyebrow, gradually accelerating and pressing harder

Efficiency eye gymnastics due to an increase in the general tone of the oculomotor muscles, as a result, and the muscles of the lowered eyelid.

In combination with regular diagnostics, moderate therapeutic effect has a massage, increasing the tone of the muscles of the eyelids and improving their blood supply.

The procedure is carried out in 4 stages:

1. Preparatory. Wash your hands and the skin around your eyes thoroughly. Before starting the massage, make sure there is no irritation or redness. Before starting, apply clean skin moisturizing cream
2. Elementary. The skin around the eyes is stroked with index fingers, they pass along the eyebrow without touching the eyelid. After you make a few circles, you need to blink a little
3. The main one - with the index finger, alternately rub the eyebrows in one direction from the bridge of the nose. Repeat 10-15 times for each eyebrow.
4. Repeat First stage as a final.

In home therapy, ice cubes from water or chamomile decoction are used to relieve swelling. Applying ice before or immediately after the massage is not recommended, as this reduces the effectiveness of the procedures.

Conclusion

Even self-treatment had a therapeutic effect professional diagnostics, consultation and control of an ophthalmologist to avoid complications.

Plan your surgery carefully, especially if the surgery involves muscle resection. Incorrect truncation can lead to the fact that the eyelid stops closing altogether - before the operation, carefully read the reputation of both the clinic and the particular specialist. Do not save on time and money - a correctly performed operation will forever eliminate the need for repeated surgical interventions.

The drooping of the upper eyelid (ptosis) is a pathologically incorrect position of this segment, which leads to covering the palpebral fissure. It should be noted that a drooping eyelid leads not only to an external cosmetic defect. This violation leads to fatigue organ of vision, eye irritation, the development of other ailments.

The clinical picture of such a pathology is pronounced, therefore, as a rule, there are no problems with the diagnosis. Ptosis of the upper eyelid is treated only by surgery, this pathology considered not only in ophthalmology, but also in plastic surgery.

It is also noted that the pathology has no restrictions regarding age and gender, and therefore is equally diagnosed in both children and adults. Ptosis can be either congenital or acquired.

Congenital ptosis of the upper eyelid may be due to such etiological reasons:

1. absence or pathology of the levator muscle, which is responsible for lifting / lowering the eyelid;
2. pathology of the conductive pathways of nerve endings.

In addition, the development of blepharoptosis of the upper eyelid as a result of a family predisposition is not excluded. In more rare cases the congenital form of the disease remains etiologically unknown.

As for the acquired form of pathology, when one eyelid is lower than the other, the following etiological factors are present here:

• natural process body aging;
• diseases of the nervous system - stroke, multiple sclerosis;
• paresis of the oculomotor nerve;
• meningitis;
• brain tumors (moreover, the cause can be both malignant neoplasm, and benign);
• brain abscess;
• Horner's syndrome;
• myasthenia gravis;
• muscular dystrophy;
• blepharophimosis;
• congenital myopathy;
• eyelid tumors;
• retebulbar hematoma;
• mechanical damage to the organs of vision;
• scarring after injury or serious illness.

Separately, it should be said about such a type of pathology as pseudoptosis. AT this case closes the eye due to excessive skin.

Classification

According to the nature of the occurrence, the following forms of the disease are distinguished:

1. congenital ptosis.
2. acquired ptosis.

By the nature of the lesion, they distinguish:

• unilateral ptosis;
• bilateral.

Based on the etiology of the pathological process, the following forms are distinguished:

1. neurogenic ptosis.
2. aponeurotic.
3. myogenic.
4. mechanical.
5. pseudoptosis (false).

Based on the severity of the pathological process, the following forms of the disease are distinguished:

• ptosis I degree or partial - the edge of the eyelid covers only upper part pupil
• ptosis of the second degree (semi-ptosis of the upper eyelid) - the segment descends to half of the pupil;
• ptosis of the third degree or complete - in this case, the upper eyelid covers the entire pupil.

Clinicians note that in most cases the unilateral nature of the development of the pathological process is diagnosed ( about 69% of the time).

Symptoms

It should be noted that the congenital this disease quite often combined with other ophthalmic diseases, due to the peculiarities physiological structure organ of vision.

In this case, the clinic of congenital or acquired ptosis is characterized as follows:

1. the patient is forced to throw his head back in order to ensure normal vision.
2. blinking movements are difficult.
3. increased eye fatigue.
4. frequent inflammatory processes.
5. irritability of the organs of vision.
6. decrease in visual acuity.
7. infection of the organs of vision, which significantly worsens the course of the clinical picture.

Due to the fact that one eye is constantly covered, over time, the patient develops amblyopia (impaired vision in one eye). The development of other ophthalmic diseases is also not excluded. Since clinical picture quite specific, problems with the diagnosis does not arise.

At the first symptoms, you should seek medical care and not ignore the signs of the course of the pathological process.

Diagnostics

At the initial examination ophthalmologist The following indicators are evaluated:

• the size of the palpebral fissure;
• eyelid localization height;
• the location of the eyelids of both eyes;
• symmetry of the organs of vision;
• mobility of the eyes and eyebrows;
• levator muscle strength;
• head position.

Also during the physical examination, the clinician should determine the personal and family history of the patient, the nature of the manifestation additional symptoms(if any), the time when the first clinical signs began to appear.

In addition, the following diagnostic measures are carried out:

1. visual acuity tests.
2. perimetry.
3. biomicroscopy.
4. study of binocular vision.
5. measurement of the angle of strabismus.
6. exophthalmometry.
7. determination of the volume of accommodation.
8. CT or MRI of the brain.

It should be noted that with the acquired form, consultation may be required. neurosurgeon and neurologist.

Further therapeutic measures are determined based on the data obtained during the initial examination and the results diagnostic measures. However, it should be understood that it is possible to correct the lowered corners of the eyes, in most cases, only by resection.

Treatment

The provoking factor is eliminated and only then the cosmetic defect. The treatment of ptosis is determined individually. In the case of a congenital form of pathology, the decisive method for eliminating the pathology is surgical intervention.

The time of the operation is determined individually, but there are general recommendations:

• partial ptosis is eliminated by the method surgical intervention at the age of 13-16;
• with complete ptosis, the operation is performed in preschool age. This is due to the fact that in this case the risk of developing amblyopia and other ophthalmic diseases is eliminated.

Regardless of what form of pathology is diagnosed and what method of intervention is chosen, the actions will be aimed at shortening the muscle or shortening the levator aponeurosis.

Standard resection of the levator eyelid is carried out as follows:

1. thin excess skin is excised.
2. aponeurosis resection.
3. the lower edge of the aponeurosis is fixed to the cartilage of the upper eyelid.

If we consider such an intervention from the point of view of plastic surgery, then quite often resection is carried out in conjunction with blepharoplasty.

In the event that it is installed neurological cause development of such a pathology, then initially used conservative methods removal of pathology, namely:

• massage;
• galvanization;
• paraffin therapy.

If within 6-9 months conservative measures do not give results, doctors prescribe an operation.

Forecast

With the right tactics of surgical intervention, the aesthetic result is preserved for life. If treatment is not started, over time, the patient develops amblyopia and other ophthalmic diseases irreversible nature. All this can lead to total loss vision.

Possible Complications

The most likely aggravating factors include:

1. unilateral amblyopia.
2. diplopia.
3. strabismus.
4. chronic ophthalmic diseases of an infectious nature.

To prevent such complications or reduce the risk of their development is possible only if you consult a doctor in a timely manner.

Prevention

Concerning the congenital form of pathology specific methods there is no prevention. As for the acquired type of the disease, it is advisable to use the following recommendations clinicians:

• prevention of eye injuries;
• timely and proper treatment ophthalmic diseases;
• prevention of neurological diseases, as they are one of the causes of this pathological process.

Persons who have a family history of chronic ophthalmic diseases should be systematically preventive examination at the doctor's. Self-medication is excluded, as this is fraught with the development of extremely negative consequences.

Drooping heavy eyelids make the eyes look smaller, and make-up becomes more difficult to do. To create a beautiful, stylish and neat beauty look, you need to know special techniques that allow you to enlarge your eyes and not make your eyelids even more heavy.

Basic rules for eye makeup with an impending eyelid:

• rejection of mother-of-pearl shadows and glitter
• rejection of heavy wide eyeliner on the upper eyelid
• rejection of dark shadows on the upper eyelid and heavy smoky makeup

Photos of celebrity makeup with impending eyelids

Blake Lively

A charming blonde knows how to emphasize her appearance. Blake has heavy eyelids and eyes with downturned outer corners. She should not do makeup with mother-of-pearl shadows on the upper fixed eyelid and with heavy eyeliner.

A good option would be a three-dimensional makeup with highlighting the inner corner of the eyes at the bottom with a slight darkening of the outer corners along the upper eyelid. So the eye visually becomes larger. A little subtle smoky makeup with matte shadows does not draw attention to swollen eyelids.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer does not have a pronounced swelling of the upper eyelids, but there is an anatomy that requires careful handling and applying makeup. So, for example, it was a big mistake to emphasize the eyes with eyeliner and highlight the line lower lashes with ignoring the upper eyelid, which visually seemed to lie on the eye.

The most successful makeup for Lawrence is a delicate smokey eye in matte shades of gray and brown without sharp dark lines.

Emma Stone

Emma is the owner of large almond-shaped eyes with heavy swollen eyelids. She is contraindicated in thick shiny eyeliner or pearly colored shadows. All this makes the eyes even more heavy.

The best option is neat arrows, and shadows are preferred in neutral shades.

Rosamund Pike

The British actress has a rather difficult face to make up due to the special anatomy. The overhanging eyelid is combined with small eyes. They can not be left completely without makeup, or make an expressive smoky eye.

If you focus on the eyeliner along the line of the upper eyelashes, covered with voluminous mascara, the eye immediately opens, it seems larger, and the eyelids no longer look heavy.

Rachel Bilson

big Brown eyes with downturned corners, combined with slightly overhanging eyelids, require skill in makeup. For example, Rachel should not make her eyebrows too thin, further increasing the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe swollen upper eyelid. It is also contraindicated for her and arrows that extend beyond the edges of the outline of the eye, which emphasize the peculiarity of the eyelid.

It is better to give preference to the correct outline of the eye with a matte liner, and mark the eyelids with discreet shadows without the effect of visual weighting.

Taylor Swift

Taylor doesn't have a problem with upper eyelid puffiness, but because her eyes are small and deep set, her eyelids seem to slide over her eyes, hiding them underneath. Because of this, the singer should not do makeup with very thick black eyeliner and shadows.

The most reasonable solution is a neat three-dimensional make-up that enlarges the eyelid.

Camille Belle

Camilla is very beautiful eyes, but combined with heavy overhanging eyelids. This drawback is especially noticeable if the eyelids are left without color and only the area around the eye is emphasized with a liner.

It's enough to see how the actress's look changes in luxurious smoky makeup with long eyelashes. The impending century as it never happened.

Lee Ann Rimes

Highly narrow eyes and very heavy eyelids - actress Renee Zellweger lived with exactly the same data all her life, until she did plastic surgery and transformed beyond recognition. But the singer Lee Ann Rimes, it seems, is not going to radically change her appearance yet, which, to be honest, is very difficult to correct with makeup.

In order not to aggravate the situation, it is worth abandoning dark shades and mother-of-pearl shadows, as well as heavy thick eyeliner. Peach, beige, pink, purple for shadows in combination with long eyelashes will help to look natural.

Malin Akerman

The actress has small narrow and deep-set eyes, and, if not emphasized on purpose, her face looks disharmonious.

To open your eyes and balance the features, you should use smoky makeup with neat thin eyeliner.

Leelee Sobieski

Almond-shaped grey-blue eyes Lily combined with slightly overhanging eyelids is not a big problem.

Nevertheless, it is better to keep makeup in matte shades of shadows and not get carried away with solid heavy lines of eyeliners.

Michelle Williams

The American independent film star often appears on the red carpet wearing nude makeup, sometimes accentuating a puffy upper eyelid.

To make the beauty look harmonious, Michelle recommends a beautiful feminine smokey eye in matte shades of gray. With this, they become visually larger, and the upper eyelid is visually “pulled up”.

Eva Mendes

Eva is naturally very beautiful expressive eyes, which are combined with heavy eyelids, and with age this defect has worsened.

To make eye makeup look harmonious, you should move the emphasis on eyeliner along lower eyelid, neatly defined eyebrows and overlay a small amount of neutral shadows without shine on the upper eyelid.

Gigi Hadid

Gigi Hadid for her non-model face was not reproached only by the lazy. She has a really atypical appearance for a fashion model, especially a puffy face with heavy hanging eyelids and narrow, wide-set eyes.

To neutralize this natural effect, Gigi does different makeup, either refusing eyeliner in favor of simple shading of matte shadows, or relying on non-trivial graphic lines of the liner on the upper eyelids.

Cate Blanchett

The Australian actress has an interesting appearance, but with age, her narrow eyes with down-turned corners began to hide under the eyelids.

To visually open your eyes, you need a gentle smoky makeup in discreet natural shades, always in combination with lengthening mascara.

Karlie Kloss

One of the most popular American models of our time also has quite pronounced impending eyelids. Unlike many previous celebrities reviewed, Carly has a relatively big eyes, so the problem for a young girl does not yet look critical.

smokey eyes in warm colors for warm green eyes, Carly instantly solves the problem of an impending eyelid that becomes invisible.

Ptosis of the upper eyelid is a pathology in which the eyelid droops, which leads to partial or complete closure of the eye. This disease occurs in both adults and children.

Why does the eyelid droop?

What is ptosis, and what factors affect the skin of the eyelid, leading to its drooping? This is a disease that genetic predisposition, but often the pathology occurs due to injuries. Factors affecting the condition of the upper eyelid and leading to its drooping can be congenital and acquired.

1. Congenital eyelid ptosis is caused by underdevelopment facial muscles, responsible for the movement of the eyelid, or its total absence. A child may already be born with a pathology of the structure of the upper eyelid, which may appear due to birth trauma or complications during pregnancy. As a rule, congenital drooping of the upper eyelid is accompanied by visual anomalies such as strabismus or the development of anisometropia.
2. The acquired type of ptosis of the upper eyelid develops due to a mechanical injury to the face or due to infectious diseases that have led to muscle deformation, such as neuritis or encephalitis. The causes of ptosis in the elderly are associated with natural, physiological processes in the body, muscles and ligaments gradually lose their elasticity, which leads to the development of eye pathology.

Application mechanical injuries the muscle that is responsible for the upper eyelid is one of the most common causes of the development of the disease. This is due to the fact that at the site of muscle damage, the tissue begins to scar, disrupting the natural process of raising and lowering the eyelid, and the muscle itself is too weak and unable to support it.

Types of pathology and degree of development

Ptosis, the causes of which can be congenital or acquired, is divided into three types, depending on the degree of damage to visual function.

By location, pathology can be:

• unilateral (the upper eyelid falls on only one eye);
• bilateral (both eyes are covered by the upper eyelids).

Ptosis can also be:

• full - the eye is completely closed by the eyelid, a small gap remains;
• incomplete - there is a slight omission of the outer corner of the upper eyelid (half-ptosis).

For the causes of the disease, it happens:

• acquired;
• congenital.

The disease develops gradually. At the first stage, there is a slight drooping of the eyelid, which covers the pupil by a third. If the patient does not pay attention to changes and does not carry out treatment, over time the eyelid begins to fall even more, and the disease passes into the second stage, which is characterized by half-closing of the pupil.

The eyes immediately react to the obstruction, unilateral strabismus begins to develop. Without timely treatment the pathology will begin to progress, and in the third stage of the disease, the eyelid will be completely lowered.

Vision begins to decline as the eyelid droops. Symptoms of pathology develop gradually. The patient begins to adapt to this pathology - throws his head back or constantly raises his eyebrow.

Physical manifestations of the disease

Symptoms of the disease develop as the upper eyelid begins to droop. On the initial stages development of the disease, a person does not notice any special changes in visual acuity, but there are physical signs muscle dysfunction.

Eyebrow ptosis has the following symptoms:

• a constant feeling of irritation in the eye, as if a mote had fallen;
• eyes get tired too quickly, regardless of whether the eyesight is strained when reading and working at a computer or not;
• permanently raised eyebrow;
• a person often throws his head back;
• visual impairment.

When blepharoptosis begins to develop, a person does not immediately pay attention to a change in the state of vision. The patient begins to reflexively tilt his head back or constantly raises his eyebrow to release the pupil. At further development pathology symptoms are more acute.

Over time, difficulties arise in closing the eye, as the muscle weakens and is no longer able to perform its function. With constant irritation of the eye, infectious diseases can occur, further aggravating the patient's condition.

The manifestation of the disease is visible to the naked eye, at first the outer corner of the upper eyelid drops a little, as if it is inflamed, the facial expression immediately changes, it becomes boring, whiny.

In adults and children, the disease inevitably leads to visual impairment. Children develop strabismus, adults note a gradual decrease in visual acuity, double vision appears in the eyes.

Without timely treatment, pathology can lead to very serious complications and irreversible pathological processes which are exacerbated in the elderly.

What is ptosis?

Pathology that occurs over time and does not have a hereditary character is divided into several types depending on the reasons that led to its development.

Ptosis can be:

• aponeuric;
• neurogenic;
• myogenic;
• false;
• mechanical.

The aponeuric type of pathology of the upper eyelid occurs due to muscle weakening, loss of elasticity and excessive stretching. This happens under the influence of many factors, and in most cases this pathology is observed in the elderly. Often, the weakening of the eyebrow muscle is associated with its injury or previous diseases, accompanied by an inflammatory process.

Ptosis neurogenic type appears after injuries leading to a violation of the integrity of the muscle, past illnesses infectious nature. Often this pathology is observed in patients who have had a stroke, or with the development of multiple sclerosis.

Treatment of ptosis of the upper eyelid of the neurogenic type must begin with the elimination of the cause of the pathology. There are cases when the drooping of the eyelid is caused by pathological processes in cervical region spine - pinched nerve, the presence of cancerous tumor compressing soft tissues.

The cause of the pathology of the myogenic species is the presence in a person of myasthenia gravis - a disease in which the myoneural synapse is affected. Mechanical ptosis appears due to a rupture of the eyebrow muscle.

There is the concept of false ptosis, the appearance of which is associated with the presence of extra folds on the upper eyelid, the presence endocrine disorders in the body or a decrease in intraocular pressure.

Ptosis that occurs as a result of the development of a neoplasm in the orbit is called oncogenic. In patients who do not have an eyeball for any reason, an anophthalmic-type pathology begins to develop over time.

Regardless of what caused the development of the pathology of the upper eyelid, treatment must begin with the elimination of the factor that led to the development of ptosis. If only a cosmetic defect is removed, the disease will return after a while.

Diagnostic methods

Ptosis, the treatment of which often leads to the need for a surgical operation, is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist when examining a patient. The doctor immediately sees the lowered upper eyelid, but in order to find out the cause of the pathology, the patient needs to undergo a series of medical tests.

Used for diagnostics modern methods examinations that allow not only to identify the cause of the pathology, but also to determine the degree of development of the disease and the presence of complications.

To be sure primary diagnosis the doctor will need a complete history of the patient, conducting a survey, during which the doctor finds out whether the patient had eye or head injuries, whether there was a pathology of drooping of the upper eyelid in close relatives.

The examination methods necessary to diagnose the causes of ptosis are:

• magnetic resonance imaging;
• computed tomography.

These methods make it possible to identify the causes of the pathology and to study the degree of development of complications that have arisen due to ptosis. Parents Special attention should be given to your children in the event that a slight drooping of the upper eyelid is noticeable.

It is worth remembering that such a symptom is the first and main sign of ptosis, and the sooner the diagnosis is made and treatment is started, the less likely occurrence of serious complications.

Pathology therapy

Some patients, having noticed the first manifestations of ptosis in themselves, do not pay attention to it, believing that this pathology is only a cosmetic defect, and postpone treatment. But ptosis is serious pathology vision, which without timely and proper treatment will lead to very grave consequences and it will be impossible to fix them.

On the early stages development of the disease, it is possible to use conservative methods of treatment aimed at restoring the elasticity and firmness of the eyebrow muscle. The method of treatment will depend on what cause led to the development of ptosis. The main methods of conservative treatment of ptosis are as follows:

• UHF therapy;
• electrophoresis procedures;
• laser muscle tightening;
• myostimulation method.

If treatment with conservative methods was carried out for ptosis of the upper eyelid, after a while the disease will again make itself felt. If, a few months after treatment, a person notices the manifestation of symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to carry out surgical operation. Innovative Methods treatment of ptosis - the introduction of injectable drugs:

• botox;
• dysport;
• lantox.

The essence of these techniques is the introduction into the eyelid of drugs that have a relaxing effect on the eyebrow muscle. As soon as the eyelid is raised, the patient's vision immediately improves.

Before performing the procedure, the doctor carefully examines the patient's history, in particular the presence of allergic reactions body for substances for injection. It is important to understand that these procedures, although they provide fast action, do not affect the cause of the appearance of ptosis, and the disease may return after a while.

When conservative treatments fail to cure ptosis, the doctor prescribes surgery. The essence of the surgical intervention is that the patient's brow muscle is shortened, which has stretched and is no longer able to support the upper eyelid.

For the operation is used general anesthesia or local anesthesia, the choice depends on how the patient tolerates medical manipulations. The duration of this operation to shorten the eyebrow muscle is 30-60 minutes. A week after the operation, the patient's stitches are removed, which will quickly heal and will not be visible.

There is the concept of gravitational ptosis, the appearance of which is due to the fact that the skin on the face begins to lose its elasticity and stretches, and with it the upper eyelids droop.

With this pathology, there is a displacement of the lower eyelid. This is the most light type ptosis, the treatment of which involves the use of various cosmetic methods - massages and applying creams to restore skin tone and tighten the eyelids.

AT advanced cases, when the skin has become completely decrepit, and creams are not able to restore its original state, hardware procedures, laser resurfacing, and plastic lifting are carried out.

Ptosis is not a cosmetic defect, but a severe ophthalmological problem that, without proper treatment, can lead to irreversible pathological processes and subsequently to complete blindness.

It is impossible to delay treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor when the first sign of ptosis appears - a slight omission outer corner upper eyelid.

The drooping of the upper eyelid is a problem that most European women face after 40 years of age. Why does the crease of the upper eyelid increase and is it possible to remove the overhanging upper eyelid without surgery? Do not envy women with an Asian eye shape, who have an epicanthus, but the fold of the upper eyelid is practically absent and, therefore, the upper eyelid cannot fall. There is no need to envy, but it is possible and necessary to reduce the overhanging upper eyelid. . And better facelift to make the upper eyelids without surgery, in order to restore the natural size and shape of the eyes, and the eyelids - young mobility. Yes, and see, in this case, you will be better.

Why are the upper eyelids drooping?

Over time, the natural fold of the upper eyelid can grow, that is, there will be a drooping of the upper eyelid, if two muscles - the frontal and the muscle that lifts the upper eyelid, have weakened, and the skin of the forehead and eyelids has lost the necessary elasticity.

The frontalis is the largest mimic muscle of the face. It is located under the skin of the entire forehead and its function is to raise the eyebrows up. The frontal muscle (like other facial muscles) is practically not attached to the bones and is closely connected with the skin. When, tensing the muscle, we raise the eyebrows up, the skin of the forehead contracts, forming wrinkles. To avoid wrinkles, women often do not use this muscle. . But, then, over the years, weakening, the frontal muscle slides down under the influence of gravity and pulls the skin attached to it. Eyebrows droop and excess skin creates an overhanging upper eyelid.

Another possible mechanism formation of drooping of the upper eyelid consists in the weakening of the muscle eyeball- muscles that lift the upper eyelid. . It is located in the skin above the upper eyelid. . Maybe because over the years people look up less often or close their eyes more often, this muscle loses strength and, together with the skin, lowers, increasing natural crease upper eyelid.

If the upper eyelid has drooped and you are not ready to put up with it, you need to do an upper eyelid lift.

How to slow down the drooping of the upper eyelids or do an upper eyelid lift with exercises.

With the help of exercises, you can strengthen, make more energetic the muscles, due to the weakening of which the upper eyelids have fallen. The folds of the upper eyelids will begin to decrease, the eyes will look large, as in youth, and your field of vision will be restored.

To lift the upper eyelids, you need to master and regularly correctly do two exercises of the Gymnastics for the Face course: an exercise for the frontal muscle and an exercise for the muscle that lifts the upper eyelid. These exercises against overhanging upper eyelids are described in detail below, provided with explanations and illustrations, you can also watch a video of their implementation. If necessary, you can also take a master's lesson via video link via Skype. If the topics proposed for the training do not suit you, apply for a training on a topic that you formulate yourself.