Height of the tarsus of the lower eyelid

The vertical height of the lower eyelid tarsus of 20 patients submitting to lower eyelid resections and the lower tarsus of 17 cadavers was 3.7 mm (+/- 0.3) and 3.9 mm (+/- 0.5), respectively. The average value found in our patients was statistically different (P less than .05) than the values of 5 to 7 mm reported previously. The lower tarsus should be clearly identified in procedures involving eyelid repair or eyelid reconstruction so that tension-bearing sutures can be placed through the tarsus.