Metric and Non -metric Characteristics of Korean Eyes Using Satadardized Photographs / 체질인류학회지

The purpose of the present study was focused the anthropometric charateristics of normal Korean eyes, including inclination, height, width, epicanthus and upper eyelid crease. The author measured normal eyes and investigated incidence of epicanthal fold and upper eyelid crease in 774 males and 658 females with photographs. The epicanthus were classified by three types and the upper eyelid crease were classified by four types. The angle of inclination of eyes was larger in females than males and in young ages than old ages. Incidence of the slanting eye over 10 degree was 34.1 % in males and 41.0% in females. Incidence of the epicanthal fold was 57.0%, and there was no difference between males and females. The most common type of the epicanthal fold was type I. Incidence of the upper eyelid crease was 30.9% in males, 47.2% in females. The most common type of the upper eyelid crease was parallel (or floating) type. In conclusion, the anthropometric characteristics of normal Korean or oriental eyes are apart each other and slanting eyes in addition to puffy eyelid, narrow palpebral fissure, presence of epicanthal fold and absence of upper eyelid crease.

Epicanthus as a Cause of Pruritis

According to the ophthalmic literature, the lack of epicanthus and termi-nal hairs at the medial side of punctum are unique features in most non-Asian eyelids.We wanted to examine the presence of terminal hairs at the medial side of punctum in Asian.A study was designed to examine 416 eyes of 208 patients who had visited our hospital between March 1999 and Sep-tember 1999.Physical examination included the presence of epicanthus, terminal hairs at the medial side of punctum, upper eyelid crease and pruritus in medial canthal area.The mean age of the patients was 56.5 years.Epi-canthus was seen in 256 eyes of 416 eyes (61.5%).The upper lid creases were detected in 242 eyes of 416 eyes (58.2%)and classified mostly as the medial tapering and lateral flaring type (83.5%).There were 250 eyes of 416 eyes (60.1%)who had terminal hairs at the medial side of punctum.Sixty eyes of 416 eyes (14.4%)complained of itching sensation in medial canthal area and had experienced once or two times per week (70.0%).They com-posed of 44 eyes of 60 eyes (73.3%)with epicanthus and terminal hairs, 10eyes of 60 eyes (16.7%)with only terminal hairs, and 6 eyes of 60eyes (10.0%)with only epicanthus.In our study, we found many patients had terminal hairs at the medial side of punctum in Asian and the presence of epicanthus and terminal hairs caused itching sensation at medial canthal area.

Morphological Evaluation of Upper Eyelid in Korean

Facial appearance is influenced by the anatomic relationship of the eyebrow and eyelid. The morphology and normal anatomical value of upper eyelids are variable depending on race, sex and age, and have not been standardized yet in Korea. The authors statistically analysed normal anatomical variation of the upper eyelid morphology of 200 eyes of Koreans who had no surgery or trauma in the upper eyelid. One hundred men and one hundred women were included in this study. Physical examination of upper eyelid morphology included upper eyelid height, presence of upper eyelid crease and its level, height and width of palpebral fissure, height of tarsal plate, intercanthal distance, levator function, and presence of epicanthal fold with type. Average age was 21.09 in men and 23.03 in women, average heights of upper eyelid 15.04 mm and 16.05 mm, average heights of palpebral fissure 8.12 mm and 9.08 mm, average width of palpebral fissure 26.55 mm and 28.02 mm, average heights of tarsal plate 7.62 mm and 8.07 mm, and average intercanthal distances 36.82 mm and 35.90 mm. Increased values were noted in women compared to men, in upper eyelid height, height and width of palpebral fissure, and height of tarsal plate, especially levator fuction.But we couldn't find the statistical variation. Upper eyelid crease was noted in 29% in men, 54%in women.29 eyes in men and 24 eyes in women had epicanthal fold with epicanthus tarsalis being most prevalent morphologically. In our study, there was no meaningful difference of upper eyelid morphology depend on sex and we found that the favorate upper eyelid crease shape was the parallel crease type with narrow height in Koreans. These results may be beneficial in making a basic plan for the upper eyelid surgery such as blepharoplasty.