Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | Eyes | General Eye Care

Palpebral slant - eye

Definition

The palpebral slant is the direction of the slant of a line drawn from the outer corner of the eye to the inner corner.

Alternative Names

Mongolian slant

Considerations

The palpebra are the upper and lower eyelids which, viewed together, make up the shape of the eye. A line drawn from the inner corner to the outer corner determines the slant of the eye, or palpebral slant. Slanting and a fold of skin (epicanthal fold) are normal in people of Asian descent.

Abnormal slanting of the eye may be associated with some genetic disorders and syndromes. The most common syndrome associated with an abnormal palpebral slant is Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome often also have an epicanthal fold in the inner corner of the eye.

Common Causes

Palpebral slant may not be associated with any other defect. However, in some cases, it may be due to:

• Down syndrome
• Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Certain genetic disorders

Home Care

There is no special care for palpebral slant. Instead, you should treat the condition that is causing palpebral slant.

Call your health care provider if

Contact your health care provider if:

• Your infant has abnormal facial features
• You are concerned about your infant's ability to move his or her eyes
• You notice any abnormal color, swelling, or discharge from the eyes

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will get a medical history and will do a physical examination.

Medical history questions might include:

• What is the slant (does the outer corner slant upward or downward)?
• What other symptoms are present?

An infant with an abnormal palpebral slant generally has other symptoms and signs of a specific condition. Diagnosis of that condition will be based on a family history, medical history, and a thorough physical exam.

Laboratory studies such as chromosome studies, enzyme assays, x-rays, and metabolic studies may be ordered to confirm a suspected disorder.

Review Date:8/15/2007
Reviewed By:Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.