Eyelid Laxity, Anthropometric, and Body Composition Parameters: Sex-Based Differences

The physiopathology of eyelid aging (dermatochalasis) involves loss of collagen and elastin. However, few studies have assessed the relationship between anthropometric and body composition parameters and eyelid laxity. This study aimed to explore associations and sex differences between dermatochalasis and such parameters.

A case series study of 58 patients with dermatochalasis along with a comparison group of 32 normal patients matched by age (50-65 years) and sex was conducted in the ophthalmic clinic of a university hospital. The measures were body mass index, arm circumference (AC), waist circumference, calf circumference (CC), arm muscle circumference (AMC), skin folds, fat mass, grip strength, and change in weight in the previous 5 years.

Men with a lower CC (P = .042), AC (P = .044), and AMC (P = .023) were more likely to have dermatochalasis. A linear regression model revealed that patients with mild and moderate/severe degrees of dermatochalasis tended to have lower AMC (-2.34 cm, P = .049) and (-2.80 cm, P = .047), respectively. In women, a tendency toward a greater AMC (P = .054) was found in those with dermatochalasis, and gains of 5.66 mm in the suprailiac skinfold (P = .030) and 1.89 cm in the AMC (P = .047) were found in those with mild dermatochalasis.

Adequate muscle reserve might protect men from eyelid aging, but the same tendency was not confirmed in women. This suggests the use of the diagnosis of dermatochalasis as a proxy variable for the assessment of nutritional disorders in older men.   Cite this article as: Correia e Silva TR, Cabral PC, Diniz AS, Arruda AM, Ferreira MF, Santos ACO. Eyelid laxity, anthropometric, and body composition parameters: sex-based differences. Eurasian J Med. 2026, 58(1), 1084, doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2026.251084.