Authored by Dr Harsh Sharma, Edited and Peer Reviewed by Dr. Pooja Sharma

Published February 20, 2015, Last updated February 25, 2017

The patient of Ptosis or Drooping Eyelid

I have received some suggestions from some readers who want me to present some cured cases. On their suggestion, I am hereby presenting a cured case of ptosis or drooping eyelid.

A couple of months ago, a young teenaged boy was brought to me. He was about 14 years of age. His physical build was just about normal, neither obese nor skinny. His height too was just right for his age. His father had a tinge of panic in his tone. The reason for this worry and sense of panic was the teenager. An ophthalmologist they had been to, had just advised a surgery for the boy. And neither the boy nor the father were able to come to terms with this development. They were afraid of the very word’surgery’. Moreover there were some other pressing issues at hand.

The Dilemma-to go in for surgery or not

The boy had his final exams round the corner, a very inopportune time for the surgery. The other option of not going in for surgery was also pretty scary. The reason being that the ophthalmologist had scared them that if they do not go in for surgery, there is no cure for the problem. They seemed to be in trouble either way. If the  eye did not get better soon enough, his studies would suffer. He was at the fag end of his session and an important one at that. The dilemma of whether to go in for surgery or not was a real scary one.

The problem for which the boy had been suggested a surgery was Ptosis or the drooping of eyelid. For no understandable cause, as per the boy and his father, the left eye of the boy had almost closed down. The upper eyelid of the left eye had drooped and almost covered the upper part of the eye. This made it difficult for him to use the eye for his normal activities. He had difficulty in studying. He could not watch television. In school, he had difficulty keeping his eyes fixed on the blackboard ahead. To be able to look at the blackboard, he had to tilt his head far backwards. It seemed as if he was looking at the ceiling. In reality, he was just looking straight ahead.

Starting Homeopathic treatment for Ptosis

It is at this stage that a friend of the father suggested that he should at least consult a Homeopathic doctor and see if any possibility existed of any treatment. He suggested my name and the father gladly clutched at the straw of hope. When the father son duo visited me, both had a lot of apprehensions. The ophthalmologist had scared the wits out of them. I just soothed their nerves a bit and took the details of the problem. The Ptosis had developed pretty innocuously, without any history of any eye trouble. The boy had no eye trouble in his life except the fact that he used spectacles. The trouble had started developing a couple of days ago. Initially, it felt as if the eyelid was a little heavy. A developing stye was suspected. But nothing of that sort could be seen. A little bit of swelling could be seen. Over the next couple of days, the eyelid just became heavier and heavier. It was almost impossible to see right ahead by keeping the face straight. He had to tilt his head backwards as if he was looking up at the sky to be able to see straight ahead. There was no other history. No allergies could be ascertained. He had not used any drugs or medicines in the recent past.

After a careful examination of the problem, his symptoms, his mannerisms, his general nature and temperament, I narrowed down to a medicine that seemed the most suitable for the boy. The medicine was started. Their doubts were addressed and questions answered. At the same time, a liberal dose of encouragement and assurance that the problem could be cured without any surgery was given. They were provided medicines enough to last for a week and instructed to report back after a week.

Surgery avoided

A full week passed. Two passed. The boy and his father did not report back. It was only after a month that the father came for a problem of his own. On asking about the boy, I was told that the problem had been cured within a couple of days of starting the medicine. No surgery was needed. The child could complete his session without any hindrance. He is hale and hearty till date with no recurrence either.