Medial pretarsal adipose tissue in the asian upper eyelid

Abstract

PURPOSE: To report the presence of a localized pad of adipose tissue in the medial anterior tarsal surface of the Asian upper eyelid. METHODS: Clinicohistologic case series. The presence and extent of a localized pad of adipose tissue in the medial pretarsal area were documented: 1) intraoperatively for 51 consecutive upper eyelid surgeries; and 2) in the histologic study of 10 cadaveric upper eyelid specimens. RESULTS: Medial pretarsal adipose tissue, ranging from 5 mm to 22 mm in size, was consistently found in all clinical patients regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or underlying pathology. Histologic examination of the cadaveric specimens confirmed the presence of a localized pad of adipose tissue on the anterior surface of the superior tarsus medially. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a localized pad of adipose tissue on the anterior surface of the medial superior tarsus seems to be a consistent finding in Asians. ©2008The American Society of Opthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.