Difference Between Ptosis and Blepharoplasty

Key Difference – Ptosis vs Blepharoplasty
 

The key difference between ptosis and blepharoplasty is that ptosis is a disease symptom whereas blepharoplasty is a therapeutic procedure that is used in the management of conditions such as dermatochalasis and blepharochalasis.

Ptosis and blepharoplasty are two words that are used hand in hand most of the time. Although they are commonly used together, these words have drastically different meanings.  Ptosis is the drooping of the upper eyelid due to neurological disease conditions such as myasthenia gravis or due to myopathies. On the other hand, blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure used for the treatment of deformities of the eyelids where the surgeon makes a small incision on the skin of the affected eyelid to remove excessive tissue contents.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ptosis 
3. What is Blepharoplasty
4. Side by Side Comparison – Ptosis vs Blepharoplasty in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Ptosis?

Ptosis is the drooping of the upper eyelid. The upper eyelid movements are controlled by two muscles. Levator palpebrae superioris, which is the major muscle involved in the movement of the eyelid, is innervated by the oculomotor nerve. Muller muscle also takes part in moving the eyelid and has a sympathetic innervation. Since levator palpebrae superioris is mainly involved in lifting up the upper eyelid, damage to the oculomotor nerve cause complete paralysis and a problem with the sympathetic nervous system will cause only a partial ptosis.

Causes

• Oculomotor nerve palsy
• Myasthenia gravis
• Horner’s syndrome
• Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia
• Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy
• Involutional ptosis
• Edema and inflammation of the eyelid

Different investigations are carried out according to the clinical suspicion of the underlying cause. Management also varies depending on the pathology that causes ptosis.

Common investigations carried out to detect ptosis in a patient include,

• Myasthenia antibody test
• CT scan of the brain
• Muscle biopsy

What is Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure used for the treatment of deformities of the eyelids. A small incision is made, through which the surgeon gains access for the removal of fat and other subcutaneous tissues. Laser therapy can be used in conjunction with blepharoplasty to remove wrinkles and scars of the overlying skin.

Possible Complications of Blepharoplasty

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Keloid and hypertrophic scar formation
• Diplopia
• Eyelid deformities

This surgery is usually performed for cosmetic reasons. Blepharoplasty can be helpful in alleviating any visual disturbances caused by conditions such as blepharochalasis, which gives rise to pseudoptosis.

What is the Difference Between Ptosis and Blepharoplasty?

Summary – Ptosis and Blepharoplasty

Sometimes patients can have drooped eyelids or may find it difficult to elevate their upper eyelid. This condition is known as ptosis. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure used for the treatment of deformities of the eyelids in conditions such as blepharochalasis and dermatochalasis. The principal difference between ptosis and blepharoplasty is that ptosis is a disease symptom whereas blepharoplasty is a therapeutic procedure which is used in the management of various defects of the eyelids.

Reference:

1. Kumar, Parveen J., and Michael L. Clark. Kumar & Clark clinical medicine. Edinburgh: W.B. Saunders, 2009.

Image Courtesy:

1.”Congenitalptosis” By Andrewya – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia