Prosthesis for blepharoptosis and blepharospasm.

Blepharoptosis and blepharospasm are ocular phenomena, which cause severe functional and cosmetic problems. Both conditions respond poorly to medical and surgical correction, although surgery does provide a moderate degree of success in ptosis cases. Ptosis prostheses (crutches) have been utilized for years with only limited degrees of success. It is the author's opinion that this has been due to a lack of scientific approach to the design and limitations of the materials available for the device. To eliminate these problems, we devised and organized an approach to the design of the prosthetic device and utilized new materials with advantageous characteristics for the crutch. The results have been remarkable from a cosmetic and functional aspect and have produced an improvement in a condition considered beyond the pale of relief or treatment.