EYELID ANTHROPOMETRY OF DIFFERENT RACES IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

"Purpose: To provide the normal eye anatomical data that can be used for assessment of the patients as well as to be able to use these data to ensure a pleasing postoperative appearance in the area of cosmetic corrective and reconstructive surgery.

Methods: Measurements of eyebrow, upper eyelid, iris area and palpebral fissure were performed on 192 healthy adults (83 females and 109 males) 19 to 55 years of age were examined. The subjects are categorized into different races, gender and range of age. Frontal facial photographs of the subjects are taken using a digital camera. Subjects are instructed to maintain their head straight without any voluntary or involuntary movements or facial expressions and place a 30cm ruler on their forehead which is slightly above the eyebrow. All acquired images are transferred to a computer for digital analysis. Digital image are analyzed using NIH Image J software [1]. The calculations and statistical analyses were performed using Medcalc statistical software.

Results: Women showed greater changes in anthropometric measurements as compared to men in respect to age characteristic. The Singaporean Malay shared many similar sizes of measurements with the Singaporean Chinese. Their anthropometric measurements were almost identical for both genders. Singaporean Indian was obviously different from Chinese and Malay in two measurements for three different age groups; Medial end of eyebrow to Medial Canthus (MMC) and Lateral end of eyebrow to Lateral Canthus (LLC). These findings suggest that the two features may be useful in differentiating an Indian from Chinese and Malay one. InterCanthal distance (ICD) and Palpebral Fissure Angle (PFO) showed a gradual decrease from Chinese to Malay and follow by Indian. Overall, when compared to literature data, some differences were found, pointing out the necessity of data collected on each ethnic group.

Conclusions: The data obtained in this study showed difference in age, gender and races must be taken into account in interpretations of cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery of the eyelid."