Relative Incidence and Demographics of Blepharoptosis Subtypes in a Tertiary Care Centre, South-South, Nigeria

To determine the types of blepharoptosis and demographics of patients referred to the ophthalmology clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, thereby providing data on the common types of blepharoptosis within an indigenous Nigerian population.

A hospital-based retrospective chart review of all patients who presented with blepharoptosis from March 2015 to June 2019. Data on age, gender, affected eye, severity and aetiology of blepharoptosis was obtained.

A total of 70 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. There were 31 males, with a male to female ratio of 1:1.25. The mean age at presentation was 27.5±24.1 years (age range 3 months to 87 years). Fifty-seven (81.4%) patients had unilateral ptosis with left eye involvement in 32 (45.7%). Congenital ptosis was seen in 15 (21.4%) of the cases while acquired ptosis was seen in 55 (78.6%). Neurogenic ptosis had the highest frequency among the mechanistic types of ptosis in 23 (32.9%) patients followed by mechanical 18 (25.7%), myogenic 16 (22.9%) and aponeurotic 13(18.5%). Aponeurotic ptosis occurred more in those older than 50years of age. The association between gender and type of ptosis was not statistically significant. Patients with neurogenic ptosis had more of severe ptosis.

In this study, acquired ptosis was commoner than congenital ptosis. Neurogenic ptosis was the most predominant mechanistic type and tended to be more severe while aponeurotic ptosis was more in those above 50 years of age.