Incidence and Demographics of Childhood Ptosis

Abstract

Purpose To report the incidence and demographics of childhood ptosis diagnosed over a 40-year period in a well-defined population. Design Retrospective, population-based cohort study. Participants Patients (< 19 years) diagnosed with childhood ptosis as residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, from January 1, 1965, through December 31, 2004 Methods The medical records of all potential patients identified by the Rochester Epidemiology Project were reviewed. Main Outcome Measures Calculated annual age- and sex-specific incidence rates and demographic information. Results A total of 107 children were diagnosed with ptosis during the 40-year period, yielding an incidence of 7.9/100,000 < 19 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.4-9.5) of age. Ninety-six (89.7%) of the 107 were congenital in onset, 81 (75%) of which had simple congenital ptosis, yielding a birth prevalence of 1 in 842 births. A family history of childhood ptosis was present in twelve percent of queried patients with simple congenital ptosis. Three (4%) of the simple congenital ptosis cases were bilateral and 55 (68%) of the unilateral cases involved the left upper eyelid (95% CI: 57%-78%, p<0.001). Conclusion Childhood ptosis was diagnosed in 7.9 per 100,000 patients less than 19 years (95% CI: 6.4-9.5). Simple congenital ptosis was the most prevalent form, occurring in 1 in 842 births, and significantly more likely to involve the left side.

Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Blepharoptosis in Korea: A 24-year Experience including 2,328 Patients

“…The most common type of congenital ptosis in our study was simple congenital ptosis, and the ratio of 94.5% was greater than previous reports of 74% to 85% [316181920]. Marcus Gunn jaw-winking syndrome represented 3.8% and 5% of congenital ptosis, blepharophimosis 2.8% and 4.5%, and congenital 3rd nerve palsy 2.8% and 7.7% in the first population-based study on the incidence of childhood ptosis in Minnesota [18] and a large 10-year review in the United Kingdom [20], respectively.…”

“…Our results supported this observation. Left eye predominance in cases of unilateral congenital ptosis was reported by Griepentrog et al [18]. The authors suggested that simple congenital ptosis might be associated with an underlying failure of proper motor innervation as seen with Duane's retraction syndrome, which also shows left eye predominance.…”

“…Marcus Gunn jaw-winking syndrome represented 3.8% and 5% of congenital ptosis, blepharophimosis 2.8% and 4.5%, and congenital 3rd nerve palsy 2.8% and 7.7% in the first population-based study on the incidence of childhood ptosis in Minnesota [18] and a large 10-year review in the United Kingdom [20], respectively. In our study, unusual types of congenital ptosis other than simple were seen with relatively low frequency.…”

Evaluation of the Surgical Treatment for Congenital Blepharoptosis Using Mustarde’s Modified Method

“…In more than half of the afflicted cases it is a consequence of a dystrophy or dysgenesis of the levator palpebrae superioris (LPS) (1,2,3). In the majority of patients CBP is an isolated anomaly, and rarely is a part of a congenital syndrome with myogenic or neurogenic origin (4,5,6).…”

Evaluation of the complex treatment for congenital blepharoptosis

“…Congenital blepharoptosis (CBP), a common developmental disorder of the palpebral apparatus, occurs in 7.9 per 100,000 individuals (2). Although the cause of CBP remains unknown, most authors who support the myogenic theory state that dystrophy or dysgenesis of the levator palpebrae superioris (LPS) leads to abnormal performance (3,4).…”