[Unilateral ptosis in children].

Unilateral ptosis in children. Childhood ptosis is a common condition, mostly congenital, and of varying severity. It is characterized by a lowering of the upper eyelid. Unilateral it can affect visual development producing amblyopia. Before a unilateral ptosis of the child, pseudoptosis must be eliminated as the etiology can be a tumour. The diagnosis of congenital ptosis is mainly performed in infants. Clinical examination is based on the evaluation of the eyelid height and the visual axis, eyelid crease, the levator muscle function, Charles Bell sign and the pupil size. Some more common etiologies such as Claude Bernard Horner syndrome or oculomotor cranial nerve palsy may be confirmed on pupillary examination. Visual rehabilitation therapy should be instituted and surgical management must be planned. The surgery is based on a resection of the levator muscle or a frontalis suspension.