title: Acquired blepharoptosis.
abstract: A review is given of the aetiology and possible treatment of acquired (non-congenital), blepharoptosis, which is a common but not specific sign of neurological disease. The diagnostic categories of upper eyelid drooping are scheduled as (a) pseudo-ptosis due to a local process or overactivity of eye closure, including blepharospasm, and (b) true ptosis due to a paresis of the eyelid levators (m. tarsalis superior or m. levator palpebrae) or to a disinsertion of the m. levator palpebrae (aponeurotic ptosis). A paresis of the m. tarsalis is due to a lesion in the central, intermediate or peripheral neuron of the sympathetic chain and constitutes one of the components of Horner's syndrome. A paresis of the m. levator palpebrae may be due to a failure in central innervation, in oculomotor (n.III) function, in neuromuscular transmission or to a lesion in the muscle itself.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Oosterhuis
mesh_terms: D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005143:Eyelids / Q000503:physiopathology; D006732:Horner Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008538:Meige Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis; D009222:Myotonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology