Periocular anthropometric measurements analysis in ethnic adults of Vindhya region

Background: Periocular measurements are of importance in ophthalmology, optometry, and oculoplastic surgery. The bilateral orbital region is a key determinant in facial characteristics of a person. Normal values which are specific for patient’s age, sex, and ethnicity are important to quantify the deformity by comparison. Knowledge of the variations in the morphological and anatomical relationship of periorbital structures among different ethnic groups is important for surgeon’s efforts to retain the ethnical features. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to study the periocular anthropometric measurements in subjects of Vindhya region. Materials and Methods: The normal values of palpebral dimensions are age, gender, and race dependent. A prospective, non-randomized, observational study was done from February to July 2017 on 200 patients of 20–50 years of age attending outpatient department in the department of ophthalmology at tertiary center of Central India. Bilateral direct manual measurements of horizontal palpebral fissure (HPF), vertical palpebral fissure (VPF), and upper eyelid crease (ULC), and margin reflex distance (MRD) were recorded. Patients with conditions likely to affect the values of anthropometric parameters were excluded from the study. Results: The mean value in the right eye: HPF 29.4 ± 2.06 mm, VPF 10.3 ± 1.55, ULC 5.4 ± 1.67, BH 9.45 ± 1.86, and MRD 3.5 ± 1.04. On comparing the mean values of the various measurements in both eyes with age, only MRD was found to be significantly higher when compared between the age groups 20–30 years and 31–40 years (RE – P = 0.012; LE – P = 0.05) and between 20–30 years and 41–50 years (RE – P = 0.020; LE – P = 0.001). Mean value did not differ significantly in both the sexes. Conclusion: The results of the present study can be useful for anatomists, ophthalmologist, and anthropologists to serve as a basic framework for estimating the standard of periocular dimensions of this population that would help in obtaining satisfactory results in advanced and corrective surgeries.