J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1989 Apr;30(2):171-174.

Average Value of Margin Limbal Distance in Koreans

• Bae EH
• Kim SJ
• Oh JS

Abstract

The measurement of levator muscle function is the most important step in the evaluation of patients with blepharoptosis and also the most important factor in the choice of operation for blepharoptosis. There are two methods in measuring the levatormuscle function; one is Berke's method and the other is margin limbal distance(MLD). When the levator muscle resection procedure is indicated in blepharoptotic patients, preoperative MLD value is the clue to determine the amount of levator muscle to be resected by the MLD formula. MLD was measured in 419 normal Koreans who were examined in the Depart ment of Ophthalmology, Keimyung University School of Medicine from October 1987 to August 1988. The results were as follows: 1. The average value of MLD was 6.3 +/- 1.2mm. 2. The average value of MLD in males was 6.3 +/- 1.3mm and 6.2 +/- 1.2mm in females. 3. The average value of MLD in both eyes was 6.3 +/- 1.2mm. 4. The average value of MLD in different age groups was 5.7 +/- 1.0mm in the below 10 age gruop, 6.0 +/- 1.1mm in the 11-20 age group, 6.8 +/- 1.2mm in the 21-30 age group, 6.8 +/- 1.3mm in the 31-40 age group, 6.4 +/- 1.2mm in the 41-50 age group, 6.1 +/- 1.3mm in the 51-60 age group and 6.3 +/- 1.1mm in the above 60 age group, respectively. The average value of MLD was significantly different in the different age groups(p<0.01). Thus, the average value of MLD in normal Koreans was 6.3 +/- 1.2mm, which is significantly different from the 9mm of Putterman's. So we must consider 6.3 +/- 1.2mm as the normal value of MLD when determining the amount of levator muscle resection by the MLD formula.

MeSH Terms

Blepharoptosis
Female
Humans
Male
Ophthalmology
Reference Values