Ptosis secondary to amyloidosis of the tarsal conjunctiva and tarsus.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of chronic unilateral ptosis in a 63-year-old, otherwise healthy woman with visual restriction.


METHODS
We performed a biopsy on an enlarged tarsal plate that we believed had caused ptosis. A levator aponeurotic advancement was performed subsequently.


RESULTS
Histologic and ultrastructural examination of the biopsy specimen disclosed amyloidosis of the tarsal conjunctiva and tarsus. There was no evidence of systemic amyloidosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Localized amyloidosis involving the tarsal conjunctiva and tarsus is a rare cause of chronic eyelid thickening and ptosis.
Hill
V E
VE
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa Eye Institute and Ottawa General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Brownstein
S
S
Jordan
D R
DR
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged