Ocular adnexal asymmetry in models: a magazine photograph analysis.
BACKGROUND
Symmetry of facial features often correlates with a perception of physical attractiveness, and ophthalmologists are sometimes consulted by patients for eyelid, eyebrow, or orbital asymmetry. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of ocular adnexal asymmetry among people generally regarded as attractive.


METHODS
The mean width of the horizontal palpebral fissure (MHPF) for both men and women was determined in 40 adult volunteers. Then unobscured, head-on photographs of models looking in the primary position were digitally scanned from popular magazines. Eyelid height, eyelid folds, eyebrow height, medial canthus to midline distance, pupil to midline distance, and orbital dystopia measurements were made. After the measurements from the models were scaled to size by factoring with the MHPF obtained from the volunteers, the results were analyzed by paired samples t test for right-left asymmetry of the ocular adnexal measurements. We also examined for antimongoloid slant in the models.


RESULTS
The MHPF of the volunteers was 27+/-1.3 mm for women and 29.6+/-2.0 mm for men. Of 102 magazine photographs analyzed, 55 were women and 47 men. As a group, the models showed a statistically significant asymmetry (p<0.05) in the horizontal fissure width, upper central lid fold, upper temporal lid fold, central eyebrow height, temporal eyebrow height, medial canthal to midline distance, pupil to midline distance, and orbital dystopia. The female models had more eyebrow asymmetry. The male models had more asymmetry at the horizontal fissure and with orbital dystopia. Two male models also had a unilateral antimongoloid slant.


CONCLUSIONS
Small to moderate amounts of eyelid, eyebrow, and orbital asymmetry were observed in faces generally perceived as attractive. This fact should be considered during preoperative discussions with patients considering oculoplastic surgery.
Ing
Edsel
E
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. eingLidStrab@aol.com
Safarpour
Azien
A
Ing
Tom
T
Ing
Sabrina
S
D001504:Beauty; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005138:Eyebrows / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009915:Orbit / Q000002:abnormalities*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D010781:Photography; D011680:Pupil; D013518:Surgery, Plastic