Epicanthus

EPICANTHUS (from Greek epi- over and canthos- angle), a vertical skin fold in the area of the inner angle of the eye fissure, bridging from the upper eyelid to the lower and covering the inner commissure of the eyelids, and in more markedly developed cases - also the inner thirds of the eyelids. The free concave edge of the fold, turned outward, creates the impression of an unusual inner commissure of the eyelids, but the true commissure is always normally formed. This anomaly of the development of the facial skin coverings, usually bilateral, is detected in early childhood and with further growth of the body may disappear. It is characteristic of the Mongolian race and is generally more frequently found in individuals with a flat physiognomy, with a wide saddle-shaped nose. Simultaneously with E., other defects in the eyes are observed (convergent strabismus, ptosis, lack of eye mobility). E. should be distinguished from skin scars at the inner angle of the eye fissure, which form after burns, erysipelas, anthrax, etc. For the elimination of E. for cosmetic purposes, various operations are used, which consist in the excision of skin flaps on the nose (Ammon's oval flap; Kparry's rhomboid; Graefe and Arlt - two semilunar) or from the E. fold itself (Vikherkevich).