From the Research
The key anatomical differences between Asian and Caucasian eyelids involve the presence and attachment of the orbital septum and fat, with Asian eyelids typically lacking a visible upper eyelid crease due to a lower attachment of the orbital septum, allowing orbital fat to extend further downward and preventing the levator aponeurosis from attaching to the skin, as noted in the most recent and highest quality study 1. The main differences between Asian and Caucasian eyelids can be summarized as follows:
- Asian eyelids often have more subcutaneous fat and a narrower palpebral fissure (eye opening) compared to Caucasian eyelids 2
- The orbital septum in Asian eyelids attaches lower on the eyelid, preventing the levator aponeurosis from creating a connection with the skin and forming a visible crease or "double eyelid" 3
- Asian eyelids may have epicanthal folds—skin folds that cover the inner corner of the eye—and can be categorized into three types: single eyelid, low eyelid crease, and double eyelid 4
- Understanding these distinctions is important in fields like ophthalmology and plastic surgery, where procedures like Asian blepharoplasty are specifically designed to account for these anatomical differences, as highlighted in a study on the anatomic properties of the upper eyelid in Asian Americans 4 Some of the key anatomical features of Asian eyelids include:
- A lower attachment of the orbital septum to the levator aponeurosis, allowing orbital fat to extend further downward 5
- A thicker subcutaneous fat layer and more prominent preaponeurotic fat pad 2
- A narrower palpebral fissure and possible presence of epicanthal folds 1 In summary, the anatomical differences between Asian and Caucasian eyelids are significant and should be taken into account in medical and surgical procedures, with the most recent and highest quality study 1 providing the most accurate and up-to-date information on this topic.