Periorbital Anthropometric Measurements

Abstract

Periorbital anthropometric measurements are important in defining cosmetic, pathologic and ethnic variations. In this term, assessment of periorbital landmarks is categorized into three subclasses: periorbital soft tissue, bony orbit, and ocular projection. Measurements of periorbital soft tissue include position of eyelids, height of eyelid skin crease and eyebrows, palpebral slant angle, position of the canthal commissura, epicanthal folds, and horizontal and vertical palpebral apertures. Additionally, margin reflex distances, which reflect eyelid position relative to the eye globe, are included in most cases. Function of the levator palpebralis and its indirect indicator, margin-limbal distance, are other parameters involved in evaluation of periorbital soft tissue. The bony orbit is the socket that encompasses the extra ocular muscles, and the eye with its appendages. Its shape and dimensions are noteworthy in many congenital and traumatic craniofacial malformations. In this respect, interorbital distance, interorbital angles, inter-canthal distances (between both medial and lateral canthi), and interpupillary distance are included during evaluation of the subjects. Ideally, assessment of bony orbit requires imaging techniques. The last parameter of the periorbital anthropometry, the ocular projection, is one of the most widely used parameters in diagnosis of orbital disorders. It reflects the intraorbital volume to content relationship. It is especially significant in orbital tumors and Graves' orbithopathy. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012. All rights reserved.