Ptosis

Key Points

• Ptosis (drooping upper eyelid) results from weakness of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle or disruption of its innervation.
• It is a classic early sign of myasthenia gravis, often worsening with fatigue.
• Other causes include Horner’s syndrome (partial ptosis), cranial nerve III palsy, and mechanical causes.
• Nursing assessment documents severity, symmetry, and fatigue-related change.

Clinical Features

• Unilateral or bilateral drooping of upper eyelid
• Worsens with sustained activity (fatigable) in myasthenia gravis
• Associated with diplopia when levator and extraocular muscle involvement coexist

Related Concepts

• myasthenia-gravis - Autoimmune neuromuscular disease where ptosis is a hallmark.
• assisting-with-sensory-deficits - Vision-related assessment and safety adaptations.