Alterações palpebrais: frequência de ocorrência e perfil dos portadores em amostra populacional brasileira Eyelid disorders: frequency of occurrence and profile of carriers in a Brazilian population sample

Purpose: to show the frequency of occurrence of the eyelid disorders in a Brazilian population sample, as well as the characteristics of the carriers. Methods: a transversal study using a random population sample was carried out in the years 2004/2005, involving nine cities of the middle west region of the State of Sao Paulo - Brazil. We had 7654 participants which were evaluated according to demographic variables and complete ophthalmological examination. The eyelid disorders were detected using a lantern and slit lamp. Data were statistically analyzed. Results: eyelid disorders such as of trichiasis and ectropion were more related to the characteristics men, whites, complaining of reduced near visual acuity and 72.7% of trichiasis underwent surgical treatment, as well as 28.5% of patients with ectropion. Ptosis was related to the females, whites, complaining of reduced near visual acuity and 26.3% required surgery. Entropion was detected only in one case, male, white and a case of epiblepharon was observed in a female, brown. Conclusion: the most frequent palpebral disorder observed in the Brazilian general population is trichiasis, followed by ptosis and ectropion. The authors call attention to the fact that carriers do not have complaints related to the eyelid disorders.