subject: Eye Lid Surgery: Can A Child Be The Patient? [print this page] The way that skin ages the way certain facial feature age is certainly genetic, so for some experiencing block vision due to sagging lids is like a rite of passage. However, finding out that your child may be suffering from the condition is certainly a surprise. Eyelid lift is a simple procedure that may have a huge impact on your child's vision, and vision issues are the number one reason that children fall behind in learning.
Often children complete vision screenings at school, and if there is any concern for your child's vision a note will be sent home referring the child for further testing, however, a basic school vision test does not discriminate among reasons for poor vision, and ptosis certainly is not diagnosed by the school nurse.
In most cases of children with vision blockage due to drooping eyelids, the facial feature has gradually changed over the life of the child and it is difficult for a parent to notice. You must also look your child directly in the eye while his eyes are in a naturally open state. It is hard to stare that closely at a youngster without invoking silliness, so it is not something that is obviously noticeable.
Remember that children who have vision issues at a young age, do not really have a frame of reference for what good vision should be, so it is not likely that your child will speak up with concerns about his own inability to see, and if some of the key indicators of poor vision are absent like needing to sit close to the chalkboard in the classroom or complaining of headaches yet a vision screening indicates poor eyesight, follow up with a doctor for an official exam and mention your concerns.
Children can learn to compensate for the eye lid condition by tilting the head or widening the eyes making such a condition difficult to discover, so if you have any concerns at all about your child being able to see to his full capabilities, just ask for his doctor to include a check for ptosis or other vision blockage issues as a part of regular check-ups.
If drooping lids are found to be interfering with normal vision, a doctor will monitor the condition and make a decision as to whether eye lid surgery is the best choice for the child at the specific time. Some doctors prefer to wait as long as possible before putting a small child through surgery because of the delicate skin around the eye and a youngster's inability to adhere to recovery restrictions. It is also possible that growth will correct the situation. Of course, if a child's learning is being inhibited by his inability to see clearly, the condition needs to be addressed. Together, you, your doctor, and perhaps your child's teacher, can decide a plan of attack as a team.
by: Abigail Aaronson
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