ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To identify the causes of blepharoptosis in young adults, and explore cases that do not fit into current diagnostic categories. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of all patients aged 18-40 years ("young adults") with acquired blepharoptosis that presented to two specialist ocular plastics practices and a paediatric ophthalmologist over a period of up to 25 years. Each patient was classified according to diagnosis. Where the diagnosis was uncertain, the files were examined in detail to try and further establish a cause. RESULTS: A total of 266 young adult patients were included. The most common causes of acquired blepharoptosis were trauma-related (28.2%) and anophthalmic blepharoptosis (19.9%). In 12.4% of the cases, a definite diagnosis could not be made. Of these, one-third had a history of soft contact lens use, a possible etiologic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The cause of acquired blepharoptosis can usually be established by an appropriate history and examination, with additional diagnostic tests sometimes required. Nearly half of all young adult ptosis is related to trauma or acquired anophthalmos. Around one in eight young adults have blepharoptosis of unknown cause, a group warranting further study.
Subject(s)
Anophthalmos/complications , Blepharoptosis/etiology , Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic/adverse effects , Eye Injuries/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Blepharoptosis/diagnosis , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe the etiology of acquired pediatric blepharoptosis in a large clinical series and to elucidate the causes of the disease. METHODS: The medical records of all patients presenting with acquired blepharoptosis at two specialist ocular plastics practices and a pediatric ophthalmology practice during a period of up to 25 years were reviewed retrospectively and classified according to their diagnosis. Patients were grouped into children (<18 years), younger adults (18-40 years), and older adults (>40 years). RESULTS: A total of 268 patients <18 years of age were identified. The most common identifiable causes of acquired blepharoptosis in children were infantile hemangioma (n = 92 [34.3%]) and trauma (n = 41 [15.3%]). In 42 cases (15.7%) a definite diagnosis could not be made. CONCLUSIONS: The etiology of pediatric acquired blepharoptosis can frequently be determined by history and examination; additional diagnostic tests are sometimes required. A high percentage of pediatric patients have blepharoptosis of unknown cause.
