Post Partum Ptosis: Report of a Case at the Asokoro Hospital Abuja, North Central Nigeria.

Abstract

Post-partum ptosis is a rare cause of acquired ptosis which is mostly unilateral and occurs due to changes in the levator aponeurosis resulting from hormonal, fluid accumulation, and stress changes in labor and delivery. Risk factors include multiple pregnancies, advanced maternal age, and high body mass index. Presenting a 32-year-old businesswoman with drooping of the left upper eyelid which started 21 days after the delivery of her second child. There was no diplopia, deviation of eyes, variation during the day, or affection of daily living. No previous history. Her body mass index was 34.7 kg/m2 with a visual acuity of 6/5 and 6/4, intraocular pressures of 14 and 15 mmHg respectively. Normal extraocular eye movements. Her Margin Reflex distance 1, Margin Reflex distance 2, Upper lid excursion (levator function), and palpebral fissure height at presentation were 4,5,15and 9 mm in the right eye and 1, 5, 15, and 6 mm in the left eye. These measures started improving from the first month post-partum resolving at 1 year and 3 months post-presentation. Physicians should keep in view pregnancy-related ptosis as a rare cause of unilateral ptosis amongst women who recently gave birth.