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Incidence and demographics of childhood ptosis
Gregory J Griepentrog1, Nancy N Diehl, Brian G Mohney
1Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Insights
Childhood ptosis affects 7.9 per 100,000 individuals under 19. Simple congenital ptosis, the most common type, occurs in 1 in 842 births and often affects the left eyelid.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood ptosis is a condition affecting eyelid position in children.
- Understanding its incidence and demographics is crucial for public health and clinical management.
- Long-term population-based data on childhood ptosis are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and demographic characteristics of childhood ptosis.
- To analyze trends over a 40-year period in a defined population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, population-based cohort study.
- Inclusion of patients under 19 years diagnosed with ptosis residing in Olmsted County, MN (1965-2004).
- Review of medical records via the Rochester Epidemiology Project; calculation of age- and gender-specific incidence rates.
Main Results:
- 107 children diagnosed with ptosis over 40 years; incidence of 7.9 per 100,000 (under 19).
- Congenital onset in 89.7%; simple congenital ptosis in 75% (1 in 842 births).
- 12% of simple congenital cases had a family history; 68% of unilateral cases involved the left upper eyelid.
Conclusions:
- Childhood ptosis incidence is 7.9 per 100,000 in those under 19.
- Simple congenital ptosis is the predominant form, with a birth prevalence of 1 in 842.
- Left-sided ptosis was significantly more common in simple congenital cases.
Purpose:
To report the incidence and demographics of childhood ptosis diagnosed over a 40-year period in a well-defined population.
Design:
Retrospective, population-based cohort study.
Participants:
Patients (<19 years) diagnosed with childhood ptosis and residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, from January 1, 1965, through December 31, 2004.
Methods:
The medical records of all potential patients identified by the Rochester Epidemiology Project were reviewed.
Main Outcome Measures:
Calculated annual age- and gender-specific incidence rates and demographic information.
Results:
A total of 107 children were diagnosed with ptosis during the 40-year period, yielding an incidence of 7.9 per 100000 younger than 19 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.4-9.5). Ninety-six (89.7%) of the 107 had congenital-onset disease. Eighty-one (75%) of the 107 had simple congenital ptosis, yielding a birth prevalence of 1 in 842 births. A family history of childhood ptosis was present in 12% of queried patients with simple congenital ptosis. Three (4%) of the simple congenital ptosis cases were bilateral and 55 (68%) of the unilateral cases involved the left upper eyelid (95% CI, 57%-78%; P<0.001).
Conclusions:
Childhood ptosis was diagnosed in 7.9 per 100000 patients younger than 19 years (95% CI, 6.4-9.5). Simple congenital ptosis was the most prevalent form, occurring in 1 in 842 births, and was significantly more likely to involve the left side.
Financial Disclosure(S):
The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
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