Abstract
In 204 adult, white diabetics the palpebral fissure was measured and related to the state of metabolic control of the diabetes. A control group was formed of 204 persons matched by age and sex. The average palpebral fissure in the control group was 9.9 mm: there was a slight, but not significant, difference between the age groups and the sexes. In diabetics who were not insulin dependent the average width of the palpebral fissure was found to be 9.4 mm; in severe chronic deregulation of the diabetes, however, an average palpebral fissure of 8.0 mm was found, a significant narrowing. In insulin-dependent diabetics the average width of the palpebral fissure was 8.3 mm. This significant narrowing also increased if there was severe chronic deregulation of the diabetes. The average palpebral fissure associated with proliferative retinopathy in insulin-dependent type 1 diabetics was 6.0 mm (nearly 4 × standard deviation). This ptosis in diabetes is very probably due to chronic tissue hypoxia, to which the levator palpebrae muscle is probably extra sensitive, and in which thickening of the basal membrane of the capillaries may be one of the most important factors.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bastiaensen LAK (1983) Verbeterde vooruitzichten bij de behandeling van diabetische retinopathie. In: Vorderingen der Geneeskunde, eds: LAK Bastiaensen, HJ Teyen, AJLM Veuger. Tilburg, de Besselaar
Dortzbach RK and Sutula FC (1980). Involutional blepharo-ptosis. A histopathological study. Arch Ophthal 98:2045–2049
Jackson RL, Ide CH, Guthrie RA and James RD (1982) Retinopathy in adolescents and young adults with onset of insulin-dependent diabetes in childhood. Ophthalmology 89:7–13
Stadhouders AM, Bastiaensen LAK, Jaspar HHJ and Ter Laak HJ (1981) Some new observations on ragged-red fibers in chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia. In: Neuro-genetics and Neuro-ophthalmology, eds: A Huber, D Klein. Amsterdam, Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, pp 223–227
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bastiaensen, L.A.K. Narrowing of the palpebral fissure in diabetes. Doc Ophthalmol 56, 5–10 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154702
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154702