What should I do if my baby’s upper eyelids droop?

It is said that eyes are windows to the soul, and everyone likes to have a pair of clear, bright big eyes. However, the size of eyes is closely related to genetic factors. I heard that some babies cannot open their eyes when they are just born, or their eyes are open but their eyelids droop, making their eyes look very small. What is going on and what should we do? Well, let me introduce it to us.

Many babies cannot open one eye after they are born. However, the eye can be opened after a few days, but it is very small, which makes many parents very anxious. Experts point out that, in fact, this condition is medically called "ptosis". If it is not treated in time, it may cause amblyopia in children, and the earlier the surgery is performed, the better the effect.

There are many reasons why ptosis occurs. The most common one is congenital ptosis. The main symptom is that the upper eyelid cannot be lifted. Children with this condition often tighten their frontalis muscles, such as frowning their foreheads and shrugging their shoulders, to help lift the eyelid.

In severe cases, the patient needs to look up to see things, and when the eye drops below the pupil, it can often cause amblyopia in the affected eye. If ptosis occurs, surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible. The timing of correction varies depending on the severity of the condition. If it is severe congenital ptosis, the upper eyelid margin covers more than 1/2 of the pupil, and surgery should be performed as soon as possible to prevent amblyopia. If it is mild to moderate ptosis, it will not affect the normal visual development of children.

The method to treat the baby's upper eyelid is the ptosis correction surgery: the commonly used methods to treat ptosis are: shortening of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, downward suspension of the frontalis muscle flap and suspension with the fascia lata band.

Before surgery, the degree of ptosis and frontalis muscle strength should be measured. For congenital ptosis, when the levator palpebrae superioris muscle still has a certain function, levator palpebrae superioris muscle shortening surgery should be the first choice. This surgery shortens the levator palpebrae superioris muscle to strengthen it and improve its ability to lift the eyelid.

This type of surgery complies with normal anatomical requirements and has good results. If the function of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle no longer exists or is extremely poor, the frontalis muscle flap downward suspension or fascia lata band suspension method is required. These two methods are to connect the upper eyelid tarsal plate directly or indirectly to the frontalis muscle.

The muscle band performs the function of the upper eyelid levator muscle. Ptosis surgery generally requires overcorrection. The palpebral fissure cannot be completely closed after surgery and should be properly protected to prevent damage to the cornea or complications such as exposure keratitis.

A newborn baby’s organs are not fully developed yet. All parents hope that their children will come into this world healthy and without any harm, but it is impossible for every child to be healthy when they come into this world. Now everyone has an understanding of the problem of drooping eyelids. The editor recommends that if any adverse conditions occur, you should seek medical attention and treatment in a timely manner.