PTOSIS SECONDARY TO AMYLOIDOSIS OF THE TARSAL CONJUNCTIVA AND TARSUS

PURPOSE: To report a case of chronic unilateral ptosis in a 63-year-ol d, otherwise healthy woman with visual restriction, METHODS: We perfor med a biopsy on an enlarged tarsal plate that we believed had caused p tosis. A levator aponeurotic advancement was performed subsequently.RE SULTS: Histologic and ultrastructural examination of the biopsy specim en disclosed amyloidosis of the tarsal conjunctiva and tarsus. There w as no evidence of systemic amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: Localized amyloido sis involving the tarsal conjunctiva and tarsus is a rare cause of chr onic eyelid thickening and ptosis.