Older ptosis (was: celine 19yr old english girl with condition!)

August 12, 2005

Hi Loka,

> I've just discovered this group as well. I just became a member

> yesterday. I'm glad to hear that there are Bleph adults here. I

> literally stumbled across this site when I was doing a search

> for " ptosis. " I'm 43, and I've had 3 surgeries as a child. The funny

> thing is that my doctor and surgeon never used the " bleph " word to

> me or my parents. I'm just wondering when this term came into being.

> And did my doctor, 40 years ago, have any knowledge of this

> condition? (Anyone else out there in this situation???)

40 years ago, when I was also having my surgeries (I'm 44), the

techniques to correct BPEI were pretty much still being worked out.

However, the scientific journal articles that I have from the 60s (and

the 50s, I think?) used the same terms that are used today - at least

for the individual symptoms (ptosis, blepharophimois, epicanthus

inversus) if not for the collective BPEI syndrome as a whole. Like you,

my surgeon never named this thing. I had to specifically ask him (when I

was in my 20s) " What is this called? " , and then he wrote it down for me.

Back then, very few ophthalmic surgeons knew how to treat it, although

most would have known its symptoms' names (since they're less rare as

separate conditions, especially ptosis), and very few, even today, ever

see a case in their lives.

Until I was about 7, nobody in Australia knew how to fix it, although a

few had a go at it, without much success. Then one surgeon returned from

studying in Britain (probably at Moorfields Hospital) and he was the

only one within 12,000 miles (miles? what are those things again?) able

to turn me into the stunning beauty I am today (ha!).

> Now, as an adult, I'm interested to know if any surgery is possible

> at this stage. Anybody have any advice for me?

You aren't the only person in this group who is considering ptosis

correction at an " advanced " age, so you're not alone. Not me, I'm all

done, but there's a guy about our age in sunny Texas (the state in the

USA, not the NSW/QLD border town) considering having his ptosis fixed at

last.

I seem to recall ptosis is a not-too-uncommon late-onset problem for old

folks, not just those who've had it all along like us. But I'm no doc,

so maybe you could ask your nearest occuloplastic bloke or ophthalmic

surgeon.

> Thanks, and hugs!

Much appreciated; it's winter over here in Oz. :-)

Rob W

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