Morphological Evaluation of Upper Eyelid in Korean

ABSTRACT

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.