Epicanthal Folds FAQ's

EPICANTHAL FOLDS DEFINITION:

Epicanthal folds are defined as a condition in which skin of upper eyelid show skin folds towards inner corner of eye. Epicanthal folds are normal in Asians like in Native Americans and in Korean population. The main facial feature associated with Epicanthal folds include flat nasal bridge due to mal-distribution of skin tissues in eyes. These folds may occur due to ancestry i.e. transferred to infants from parents, due to some pathological conditions i.e. Down syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome. Age is another factor which may cause Epicanthal folds. It is normal in new born babies.

EPICANTHAL FOLDS V/S NORMAL EYE:

Epicanthal folds appear as skin folds on upper eyelid. But in normal eye these folds are not much prominent. Epicanthal folds make eye almond shaped and normally it does not appear like almond. Sometimes people have Epicanthal fold on one eye which makes it different from other one. A normal eye is wide open and looks big but in case of Epicanthal folds, eye look smaller and does not appear attractive. Epicanthal folds have an associated facial feature i.e. flat nasal bridge and heavy eye appearance. But normally, the nose looks normal and there is average distance between two eyes.

EPICANTHAL FOLDS PROMINENT:

Epicanthal folds are skin folds of upper eyelid which is a prominent condition. It can be seen with naked eye. Anyone can clearly differentiate between a normal eye and an Epicanthal fold eye. Some other features like nasal bridge and distance between both eyes makes it more prominent and obvious. People with Epicanthal folds can be easily diagnosed because eyes looks heavy and small. These skin folds sometimes appear due to any medical condition like Down syndrome. So, in that case, these skin folds are used as a most prominent diagnostic feature of these diseases.

INNER EPICANTHAL FOLDS:

Epicanthal folds are defined as skin folds of upper eyelid which covers inner most corner of eye. Basically Epicanthal folds are originated from innermost corner of eye and extend up to outer corner of eye. These Epicanthal folds make eyes smaller looking and almond shaped. In this condition, patient have greater distance than normal between two eyes i.e. inner corners of both eyes are distant than normal. Coverage of inner corner of eye with skin folds shows the presence of Epicanthal folds and are used as diagnostic parameter for many congenital diseases in people.

BILATERAL EPICANTHAL FOLDS:

Epicanthal folds are oblique skin folds which appear vertically i.e. downwards from upper part to lower one. These Epicanthal folds cover almost the whole medial canthus. Sometimes Epicanthal folds are present on one eye only i.e. in pseudo strabismus, but in bilateral Epicanthal folds, both eyes have Epicanthal folds without any difference i.e. in strabismus. Bilateral epicanthic folds normally occur in patients with any congenital disease like Down syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome. Eyes appear small and long. The bilateral Epicanthal folds appear normally in new born and infants which disappear on its own after a week of gestation period.

IS EPICANTHAL FOLD NORMAL:

Epicanthal folds are normal in Asians especially in Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Native American population. It is a congenital trait which pass on to children from their parents. Epicanthal folds are also normal in new born and infants because these folds disappear on its own after almost 1 week of gestation period. But if these skin folds do not disappear, then there may be a disease behind them. Epicanthal folds are considered a minor symptom of some congenital diseases like Down syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome. And these Epicanthal folds require treatment i.e. surgery.

EPICANTHAL FOLDS ICD 10 CODE:

Epicanthal folds have a specific diagnostic code which is ICD 10.3 which is specifically related to congenital mal-formations of eye. Other than eye malformations, this code is applicable to colobomas of eyelid, congenital accessory eyelid and eye muscles, ablepharon and blepharophimosis etc. ICD 10 code has association with eyelid and lacrimal apparatus. Likewise, ICD 10.8 code is associated with congenital mal-formations of face, neck, eye and ear. ICD 10.3 code is associated with congenital deformations and mal-formation of eye due to chromosomal abnormalities in patient.