Morphological Changes of the Eyelid According to Age

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The morphological changes of the eyelids according to gender among different age groups in Korea were analyzed. METHODS: Six-hundred adults without any ocular disease were selected, and sorted by age (ranging from 20 to 79 years), and gender. Each group consisted of 50 adults. Interpalpebral fissure (IPF), marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1), amount of the upper lid, degree of browptosis, lateral hood width of the eyelid, and protrusion of the eyelid fat were measured. The measured values were analyzed to determine changes related to the aging process. Other age groups were analyzed and compared with the subjects between 20 and 30 years old, using the Student's t-test with SPSS. RESULTS: MRD 1 and IPF slightly decreased with age, but there was no statistical significance. The upper lid amount showed a statistically significant increase at the 7th and 8th decade. The degree of browptosis showed a statistically significant increase from the 7th decade of age in men, and from the 6th decade in women. In particular, the lateral browptosis was more drooped than the center browptosis. The lateral hood width of the eyelid showed a statistically significant increase from the 7th decade of age in men, and from the 6th decade in women. Eyelid fat was most protruded at the central lower part, but there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to understand the change related to aging in the study of eyelid morphology and eyelid operation. The results from present study may be used to determine standard for the safe amount of skin resection in Korean eyelid operations.