upper eye lid sling

[Rose1227]

I am told that the only way to correct the ptosis of my eye lids (that will last more than a couple of years) is to have the sling. I have gotten a second opionion. Both doctors suggested the same procedure so I feel comfortable with the recommendation.  Can I hear from someone who has had the surgery. Are they satisfied with the results and are there any down side of the surgery?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[MikieDFW]

My son was born with a condition called Marcus-Gunn syndrome, in which one of the cranial nerves that normally goes to the mouth actually went to his left eyelid. When he was a baby, if he sucked on a pacifier or bottle, his left eye would open and close. At about two or three years of age he had surgery to correct the ptosis that was very noticeable at rest. The recommended procedure, which he had, was to correct the condition with a sling from the eyebrow, but unconventionally to have the same procedure done to both the healthy eye, as well as the affected eye, for cosmetic reasons, so that they would appear and function in symmetry. He did have to have subsequent corrective surgery to the original affected eye about eight years later, as a subtle ptosis began to appear again.

[Rose1227]

Thank you for the comments. My father and brother had this conditipon but it did not show up until later in life. My condition showed up after I had RAI for Thyroid cancer.Do you know of anyone who has had the surgery and was happy with the out come?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

sling procedures usually work best for droopy upper eyelid (ptosis) that a person was born with and in whom the lid works very little. It does not make the eyelid work normally or look and work like the normal eye.

JCH MD