Lower Eyelid Length.

BACKGROUND: A numerical measurement of the length of the lower eyelid is valuable in understanding the aging process of the lower lid. This study recorded multiple values for the lower lid length to provide average values in each age group. This measurement will allow surgeons to better assess and treat the lower lid.

METHODS: Female patients were studied in age groups every decade starting in the 20- to 29-year-old group and ending in the 90- to 99-year-old group. Twenty patients were assessed in each age group for a total of 160 patients. In each age group, an average measurement was recorded for the lower lid length.

RESULTS: The lid length average was 10.4 mm in the 20- to 29-year-old group and increased to 18.6 mm in the 90- to 99-year-old group. A steady increase in lower lid measurements numerically confirms that lower lid length increases with age. For each decade, there was an almost linear increase in lower lid length, with the greatest increase in the 40- to 49-year-old group.

CONCLUSIONS: This study numerically confirmed that the lower eyelid length vertically increases with age. Documenting that the lower lid does lengthen every decade of life and obtaining average numerical values of lower lid length allows physicians insight into the expected aging changes and typical amount of lower lid lengthening at each decade. This also provides blepharoplasty surgeons another tool to more accurately define the aging process and creates a baseline and a potential goal in restoring a more youthful lid.