Microscopic Anatomy of the Lower Eyelid in Koreans.

Kim, So Youl; Shin, So Jung; Yang, Suk Woo; Han, Seung Ho

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2006;47(2):292-296.
Published online February 28, 2006.

Microscopic Anatomy of the Lower Eyelid in Koreans.

So Youl Kim, So Jung Shin, Suk Woo Yang, Seung Ho Han

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yswoph@catholic.ac.kr
²Department of Anatomy, Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

한국인 하안검의 현미경적 해부구조

김소열¹,신소정¹,양석우¹,한승호²

Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University College of Medicine¹, Seoul, Korea Department of Anatomy, Catholic University College of Medicine², Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: So Youl Kim, M.D.¹

Abstract

PURPOSE
To study the microscopic anatomic relation of capsulopalpebral fascia, orbital septum, and tarsus of the lower eyelid in Korean. METHODS: Foureteen normal Korean lower eyelids from 14 formalin-fixed cadavers (mean age of 66.5 years) were harvested and studied with light microscopy after staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Dimensions of the structures and distances between them was measured by analyzing the digital photographs. RESULTS: There was no fusion of the orbital septum and the capsulopalpebral fascia at the lower border of the tarsal plate in 10 specimens and limited fusion of these tissue in 4 specimens. The average distance from the inferior tarsal border to the first identifiable smooth muscle nuclei of the inferior tarsal muscle was 1.38 mm. The average tarsal plate thickness was 0.98 mm and the average tarsal plate height was 3.96 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean lower lid anatomy differs from that of their non-Asian counter parts. Furthermore, there was a difference in tarsal plate thickness in comparison to Chinese lower lids. There was no consistent fusion between the capsulopalpebral fascia and the orbital septum. No extension of the capsulopalpebral fascia to the skin was observed.

Key Words: Lower eyelid anatomy;Lower eyelid in Asians;Lower eyelid in Koreans