Nonophthalmic symptoms secondary to ocular torticollis from severe blepharoptosis: an underappreciated but treatable condition.

The purpose of this case report is to describe reversible systemic symptoms associated with ocular torticollis due to blepharoptosis. A retrospective chart review identified patients with symptomatic ocular torticollis due to bilateral congenital or acquired blepharoptosis who underwent surgical correction (levator resection or frontalis sling). Preoperative and postoperative assessment of systemic symptoms in adults and developmental milestones are reported. The authors present 4 cases, 1 adult and 3 young children, all with severe bilateral upper eyelid ptosis. In the adult patient, it caused debilitating back pain that required orthopedic evaluation but was completely relieved with ptosis repair surgery. In the toddlers, subjective developmental motor delay was rapidly reversed following ptosis repair surgery. The authors suggest that primary care physicians, and spine and neuromuscular specialists, consider the possibility of ocular torticollis due to eyelid ptosis in the evaluation of patients with unexplained back and/or neck pain or with gross motor developmental delay. The authors propose that symptomatic ocular torticollis is an indication for ptosis repair.