Definition

1. Noun:
   • Drooping of the upper eyelid: A medical condition characterized by an abnormally low position (drooping) of the upper eyelid, often caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscle responsible for lifting it.

Usage

• Ptosis is a medical term used to describe a specific physical symptom. It is typically used in clinical, healthcare, or anatomical contexts.
• It is an uncountable noun. You describe the condition as "ptosis," not "a ptosis."
• Example:

Examples

• The neurologist examined the child for signs of ptosis and other cranial nerve abnormalities.
• Age-related ptosis can sometimes be corrected with minor surgery.
• Ptosis can be a symptom of more serious conditions like myasthenia gravis or a third nerve palsy.

Advanced Usage

• Congenital ptosis: Ptosis that is present from birth.
  • Congenital ptosis often requires surgical intervention to prevent amblyopia.
• Acquired ptosis: Ptosis that develops later in life due to injury, disease, or aging.
  • His acquired ptosis was a side effect of the long-term medication.
• Pseudoptosis: A false appearance of eyelid drooping, which can be caused by excess skin or other structural issues, not true muscle weakness.
  • The surgeon distinguished true ptosis from pseudoptosis before planning the operation.

Variants and Related Words

• Blepharoptosis (n): The full medical term for drooping of the eyelid; often used interchangeably with "ptosis."
  • The diagnosis was severe blepharoptosis affecting the visual field.
• Ptotic (adj): Describing something affected by or relating to ptosis.
  • The ptotic eyelid obscured part of her pupil.

Synonyms

• Eyelid droop: A more common, non-technical term for the same condition.
• Blepharoptosis: The formal synonym.

Antonyms

• Lid retraction: The opposite condition, where the upper eyelid is positioned too high.

Related Phrases / Collocations

• To correct ptosis: To perform surgery or treatment to fix the drooping eyelid.
  • The oculoplastic surgeon will correct the ptosis next month.
• Ptosis surgery: The specific surgical procedure for this condition.
• To have ptosis: The standard phrase to describe someone with the condition.
  • Does the patient have ptosis in one or both eyes?

Noun

1. drooping of the upper eyelid caused by muscle paralysis and weakness