Periocular Asymmetry in Infants with Deformational Posterior Plagiocephaly

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To analyze the clinical significance of the periorbital features associated with the facial asymmetry that is common in deformational posterior plagiocephaly (DPP).

Patients and methods: We identified 32 patients with DPP, photographed their faces and tops of their head, and performed a complete eye examination. Four examiners analyzed the patient’s periorbital features on the photographs.

Results: Median age was 6.5 months (range 3–12 months). Pseudoptosis was identified in 30 patients and pseudo-brow ptosis in 19. Pseudoptosis was marked in 17 patients. Five patients were misdiagnosed with congenital blepharoptosis and received regular follow-ups for amblyopia checks until the diagnosis of pseudoptosis was established. All patients had normal levator function and symmetric eyelid crease. One patient with pseudoptosis and physiologic anisocoria was diagnosed with pseudo-Horner syndrome after a negative 10% cocaine test. None of the patients developed meridional or occlusion amblyopia.

Conclusion: DPP is the most frequent form of skull deformation in infants. Its main features are occipital flatness and facial asymmetry. Infants with DPP may present with pseudoptosis and pseudo-brow ptosis on the contralateral side of the occipital flatness. The pseudoptosis in DPP is non-amblyogenic, therefore, ophthalmologic intervention and regular follow-ups are not necessary unless other abnormalities co-exist.

KEYWORDS:

• Eyelid asymmetry
• ocular asymmetry
• deformational plagiocephaly
• pseudoptosis

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Supported by an unrestricted grant to the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York, NY. Study conducted at the Minnesota Lions Children’s Eye Clinic, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.