Ultrasonographic Measurement of Upper Eyelid Thickness in Korean Children with Epicanthus

PURPOSE: Upper eyelid thickness was measured to determine whether there is a difference in the thickness of the upper eyelids in children with and without epicanthus. METHODS: Children were enrolled into the epicanthus group or non-epicanthus (control) group. The children with epicanthus were classified into four subgroups according to the Duke-Elder's classification. The thickness of the upper eyelid was measured at five points with A-scan ultrasonography. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in upper eyelid thickness between the epicanthus group and control group (P>0.05) or between the subgroups of the epicanthus group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that the etiology of epicanthus may not be hypertrophy of soft tissue.