Relationship of horizontal lower eyelid laxity, involutional entropion occurrence, and age of Asian patients

To examine the relationship of horizontal lower eyelid laxity, frequency of involutional entropion occurrence, and age of Asian patients.

Three hundred seventy-six Japanese patients were examined (age range, 3-95 years). The horizontal laxity was examined with a pinch test. A pinch test of >8 mm was judged as positive. The percentage of entropion eyelids was calculated, and pinch tests were also performed. The percentage of entropion eyelids in the total positive pinch test eyelids was calculated.

A positive pinch test first appeared around 40 years of age and increased with age: 7.4% at 50 to 59 years, 8.5% at 60 to 69 years, 18.1% at 70 to 79 years, 37.9% at 80 to 89 years, and 50.0% at ≥90 years. The entropion first appeared around 60 years of age. All patients demonstrated unilateral entropion with a positive pinch test. The percentage of entropion occurrence showed an increase with age: 1.7% at 60 to 69 years, 2.6% at 70 to 79 years, 5.2% at 80 to 89 years, and 8.3% at ≥90 years. The percentage of entropion eyelids in the total positive pinch test eyelids was 20.0% at 60 to 69 years, 14.3% at 70 to 79 years, 13.6% at 80 to 89 years, and 16.7% at ≥90 years, and no significant difference was found among all ages (p = 0.985).

Lower eyelid horizontal laxity and involutional entropion occurrence increased with age, and the latter was similar over ages when the pinch test was >8 mm.