INTRODUCTION Congenital ptosis is malpositioning of the eyelids that, when moderate or severe, can negatively affect visual development during its critical period, resulting in amblyopia: diminished visual acuity with no apparent organic cause. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential for preventing amblyopia. Congenital ptosis is uncommon but poses a challenge to any ophthalmologist; the only treatment is surgical. Among these patients in Cuba, those with the most complex clinical characteristics are generally referred to the Ramón Pando Ferrer Ophthalmology Institute in Havana.

OBJECTIVE Characterize visual acuity outcomes obtained in patients seen at this Institute who received surgery for simple congenital ptosis using the frontalis sling procedure.

METHOD A descriptive prospective longitudinal study was conducted to describe visual acuity outcomes in 11 patients with a diagnosis of isolated congenital ptosis seen in the Oculoplastic Service of the Ramón Pando Ferrer Ophthalmology Institute between January and July 2009 and operated on using the frontalis sling procedure. The majority exhibited severe visual acuity impairment (0.1–0.5) prior to surgery. Variables employed were age, sex, degree of ptosis, degree of ptosis correction, visual acuity, and complications during surgery and postoperatively.

RESULTS Male patients aged 1–4 years predominated. Visual acuity improved in 100% of patients, to varying degrees. Prior to surgery, 72% had visual acuity of 0.1–0.5. Six months post-surgery, with visual rehabilitation, 90.9% exhibited visual acuity of >0.5. In 81.8% of patients, palpebral ptosis was fully corrected. Complications were minimal: injury to the palpebral tarsus and undercorrection were the most common and did not affect final surgical outcome or interfere with rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS Correction of congenital ptosis using the frontalis sling technique yielded satisfactory visual acuity outcomes, contributing to visual rehabilitation of the affected patients.

KEYWORDS Blepharoptosis/congenital, blepharoplasty, frontalis sling, amblyopia, Cuba