What are Epicanthus (folds of skin in the eyelids)?
Epicanthus is when the skin fold of the eyelid covers the inner corner of the eye. This may be the result of ancestry, aging, and health conditions including some genetic syndromes. Several genetic syndromes present with Epicanthus as a symptom- over 60% of individuals with Down syndrome, for example, have Epicanthus or folds of skin in the eyelid as a facial feature.
Understanding eye-related symptoms and features
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The eye is a part of the ocular and visual systems of the body. The ocular system includes the eye and its central vision system (cornea, lens, eye fluids), all of the parts which make vision possible.
Symptoms affecting the eyes may be congenital, present at birth, or they may develop later in life. Sometimes surgery may be an option to correct them.
Symptoms relating to the eyes may affect their structure and function including their ability to see, other times they may simply affect the shape or appearance of the eye without any impact on vision.
Epicanthus is characterized by a fold of skin that covers the inner corner of the eye, often making the eyes appear narrower or more almond-shaped. This feature is particularly prominent in individuals of East Asian descent but can also be seen in other populations, particularly in certain genetic conditions.
While epicanthus can be a normal variant in many people, it is also commonly associated with conditions like Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, or fetal alcohol syndrome. It may be accompanied by other facial or eye features that help in the diagnosis of these syndromes.
What should I do next?
In some instances, folds of skin in the eyelids may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Epicanthus, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.