Prevalence, risk factors, and morbidity of eyelid laxity in elderly Egyptian population

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the age and its relation to lid laxity and ocular surface disorders as well as the lid laxity prevalence in an elderly Egyptian population. Setting The study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. Patients and methods The study included 400 patients presenting to the Outpatient Eye Clinic of Alexandria Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, from April 2018 to April 2019. A cross-sectional survey of patients above 55 years old was done. Clinical data were gathered from a questionnaire. Upper and lower eyelid laxity was clinically graded. In addition, tear breakup time test was done to evaluate dryness. Results The study was conducted on 799 eyes. The prevalence of lid laxity in the right lower and upper lids was 51.1 and 14.8%, respectively, whereas in left lower and upper lids, it was 50 and 14.7%, respectively. There was a negative significant correlation between tear breakup time and lid laxity in the right lower and upper lids and in the left lower lid (P<0.001). Conclusion Eyelid laxity was prevalent in this elderly Egyptian population. Its presence was associated with ocular surface morbidity. This suggests that dynamic eyelid testing should be incorporated into the ophthalmic examination in patients with ocular surface discomfort.

Keywords

• eyelid
• laxity
• elderly
• dry eye