title: A community survey of ptosis of the eyelid and pupil size of elderly people.
abstract: A randomly selected, age-stratified sample of subjects 50 years of age and older, living in the Salford Health District area of Greater Manchester was drawn from the age-sex register of a four-doctor group practice and invited by post to enter a study of ptosis. Of 851 subjects approached, 499 (59%) replied. Of these, 99 refused to participate. The remaining 400 were visited at home and underwent a standardized protocol of ophthalmic history, and examination including a photograph of the eyes in the primary position. Forty-six (11.5%) of the subjects had ptosis and its prevalence increased with age. Ptosis was bilateral in 18 (39%) and unilateral in 28 (61%). In all but four cases, the ptosis was acquired. The cause was evident in 23 (50%), with 11 cases being due to mechanical ptosis and 12 to aponeurotic disinsertion secondary to a known pathology. A further 22 cases had primary aponeurotic disinsertion and there was one case of probable myasthenia gravis. The prevalence of pupillary diameter of 1 mm or less increased significantly with age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Medicine, Royal Oldham Hospital, Lancs.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Sridharan
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tallis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leatherbarrow
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Forman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012494:Sampling Studies