ABSTRACT
Purpose To determine the average and the range of values of the upper lid margin-to-corneal reflex distance [ULCRD] of Saudi Arabian men and to compare them to known values for Saudi Arabian boys and Caucasian men. Such data could be useful in diagnosing and quantifying the degree of ptosis among Saudi men. Methods The subjects [N = 198, 396 eyes] were Saudi Arabian men of Arab origin aged between 16 and 26 years. All were students in secondary and tertiary institutions in the Riyadh area. Measurements of the ULCRD were obtained from projected frontal slide photographs of the subjects taken at a distance of 7m. Measured distances were converted to actual values by multiplying by a constant magnification factor. Results The average values of the ULCRD of the two eyes were similar. The average ULCRD of the right eye of all subjects was 3.49 mm +/- 0.8[range = 1.68 to 5.61 mm]. The average ULCRD asymmetry between the eyes was 0.06 mm +/- 0.48 [range = + 1.0 to -1.0 mm]. Conclusions The average value of the ULCRD of Saudi men is significantly higher than that of Saudi boys, whose average value is 3.05 mm +/- 0.79, but much lower than reported averages for Caucasians [4.5 mm, 4.1mm]. The reasons for the racial differences are not immediately clear because of inadequate demographic data on the Caucasian subjects. ULCRD asymmetry greater than 1.0 mm should be investigated further for evidence of ptosis