Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
03:59
Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis
Published on: July 8, 2025
Floppy eyelid syndrome: stretching the limits
Daniel G Ezra1, Michèle Beaconsfield, Richard Collin
1Adnexal Department, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. d.ezra@ucl.ac.uk
Survey of Ophthalmology
|October 13, 2009
Summary
Floppy eyelid syndrome, linked to vision loss, involves eyelid laxity. This review clarifies its features, associations like keratoconus and sleep apnea, and evaluates surgical treatments.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) is characterized by eyelid laxity and can lead to significant morbidity and vision loss.
- Associated conditions include keratoconus and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAS).
- The exact pathogenesis of FES remains unclear, though extracellular matrix changes are implicated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the definition, clinical features, and associations of FES.
- To discuss pathological changes and proposed pathogenic theories.
- To critically evaluate surgical treatments for FES.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review.
- Analysis of existing studies on FES definition, clinical presentation, associations, pathology, and treatment.
- Critical appraisal of surgical interventions and their outcomes.
Main Results:
- Ambiguities in FES definition persist.
- Established associations include keratoconus and OSAS.
- Extracellular matrix alterations are noted in the tarsal plate.
- Various surgical techniques exist with variable success rates and follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to clarify FES pathogenesis and standardize definitions.
- Management requires addressing associated conditions and considering surgical options.
- Evidence-based guidelines for surgical treatment are lacking.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
01:20Muscles of the Eye
The muscles of the eye are sophisticated structures that control eye movement and focus, allowing for the precise and rapid adjustments necessary for vision. The human eye is controlled by ten muscles — six extraocular muscles, three intraocular muscles, and one primary eyelid retractor muscle.
Extraocular Muscles
The six extraocular muscles surround the eyeball and control its movements. They are responsible for a wide range of eye motions, including looking up, down, left, right, and rotating...
Extraocular Muscles
The six extraocular muscles surround the eyeball and control its movements. They are responsible for a wide range of eye motions, including looking up, down, left, right, and rotating...
01:14Muscles for Facial Expressions
The craniofacial muscles are a collection of approximately 20 thin skeletal muscles situated beneath the skin of the face and scalp. These muscles, primarily responsible for the vast array of human facial expressions, originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and extend outwards to connect with the skin. While most skeletal muscles in the body are enveloped in thick fascia, facial muscles generally have a more delicate fascial covering, with the buccinator muscle being a...