Children will have drooping eyelids, the most obvious symptom, in either one or both eyes, and often it can be present since birth. They may display sideways or upwards head tilting or raise their eyebrows to see properly. Children with ptosis may also develop poor eyesight in the affected eye along with astigmatism, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), or retina degeneration. Children with ptosis may likely experience frequent tearing, eye fatigue, or double vision.

A thorough examination is required in order to assess the severity of the ptosis, how well the muscles involved in moving the eyelids are functioning, and how well the patient can see, alongside assessing whether there are other eye problems present. The doctor can decide on an appropriate treatment plan after an assessment of the condition.

With mild cases, the condition should continuously be monitored for side effects such as the requiring of head tilting to see, vision problems, or the need for either prescription eyeglasses or an eyepatch — as these side effects indicate severe ptosis. Surgery is usually recommended in severe cases of ptosis. 

Even if no major symptoms develop, it’s still vital that children have an eye exam within the following 3 to 4 years, when they may be more cooperative. Certain surgical procedures are more appropriate for older kids, although there are different options to choose from based on each individual case.

The most popular treatment option is known as blepharoplasty, which is a surgical procedure to tighten the muscles of the eyelids.