Elsevier

Ophthalmology

Volume 103, Issue 1, January 1996, Pages 168-176
Ophthalmology

The Differential Diagnosis and Classification of Eyelid Retraction

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-6420(96)30744-6Get rights and content

Background: Classification schemes are useful in the formulation of differential diagnoses. Thoughtful commentary has been devoted to the classification of blepharoptosis, but the causes of eyelid retraction have received less attention in published reports. Although eyelid retraction most frequently is associated with Graves ophthalmopathy, numerous other entities may cause the sign. This study was undertaken to provide a more comprehensive differential diagnosis and classification of eyelid retraction.

Methods: A series of patients with eyelid retraction was studied, and pertinent published reports were reviewed.

Results: Forty-four patients with different causes for eyelid retraction are described. Normal thyroid function and regulation were confirmed in all patients in whom Graves ophthalmopathy could not be excluded by clinical, biochemical, or historical criteria.

Conclusion: Based on a series of patients and reported cases, a differential diagnosis for eyelid retraction is proposed using a classification system comprising three categories (neurogenic, myogenic, and mechanistic).

References (92)

  • GS Weinstein et al.

    Eyelid retraction as a complication of an embedded hard contact lens [letter]

    Am J Ophthalmol

    (1993)
  • CN Soparkar et al.

    The silent sinus syndrome. A cause of spontaneous enophthalmos

    Ophthalmology

    (1994)
  • PAD Rubin et al.

    Orbital reconstruction using porous polyethylene sheets

    Ophthalmology

    (1994)
  • MC Smitt et al.

    Radiotherapy is successful treatment for orbital lymphoma

    Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

    (1993)
  • NR Miller

    Hepatic cirrhosis as a cause of eyelid retraction [letter]

    Am J Ophthalmol

    (1991)
  • BR Frueh

    The mechanistic classification of ptosis

    Ophthalmology

    (1980)
  • DR Meyer et al.

    Detection of contralateral eyelid retraction associated with blepharoptosis

    Ophthalmology

    (1992)
  • WE Gillies et al.

    Congenital fibrosis of the vertically acting extraocular muscles: a new group of dominantly inherited ocular fibrosis with radiologic findings

    Ophthalmology

    (1995)
  • GB Bartley et al.

    Hepatic cirrhosis as a doubtful cause of eyelid retraction [letter]

    Am J Ophthalmol

    (1991)
  • GG Klee et al.

    Biochemical thyroid function testing

    Mayo Clin Proc

    (1994)
  • GB Bartley

    The epidemiologic characteristics and clinical course of ophthalmopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease in Olmsted County, Minnesota

    Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc

    (1994)
  • MD Kleiman et al.

    Benign transient downward gaze in preterm infants

    Pediatr Neurol

    (1994)
  • J Collier

    Nuclear ophthalmoplegia, with especial reference to retraction of lids and ptosis and to lesions of posterior commissure

    Brain

    (1927)
  • MJ François

    L'hypertonie unilatérale du releveur de la paupiere supérieure dans le syndrome de Basedow

    Bull Soc Belge Ophtalmol

    (1951)
  • RM Burde et al.
  • HM Askenasy et al.

    Retraction nystagmus and retraction of eyelids due to arteriovenous aneurysm of midbrain

    AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry

    (1953)
  • JL Smith

    Pathologic lid retraction and lid position in neurology

  • SL Galetta et al.

    Pretectal eyelid retraction and lag

    Ann Neurol

    (1993)
  • K Schmidtke et al.

    Nervous control of eyelid function: a review of clinical, experimental and pathological data

    Brain

    (1992)
  • S Nevin et al.

    Organic affections

  • FB Walsh et al.
  • K Velhagen

    Basedow-ähnliches Augensyndrom bei Enzephalitis

    Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd

    (1930)
  • EE Pochin

    The mechanism of lid retraction in Graves' disease

    Clin Sci

    (1939)
  • M Kremer et al.

    A mid-brain syndrome following head injury

    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

    (1947)
  • JR Keane

    Lid-lag in the Guillain-Barn syndrome

    Arch Neurol

    (1975)
  • A Pick

    Kleine beitrage zur neurologie des auges: II. Über den nystagmus der bulbi begleitende gleichartige bewegungen des oberen augenlides (nystagmus des oberlides)

    Arch Augenheilkd

    (1916)
  • RB Daroff et al.

    Gaze-evoked eyelid and ocular nystagmus inhibited by the near reflex: unusual ocular motor phenomena in a lateral medullary syndrome

    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

    (1968)
  • MD Sanders et al.

    Lid nystagmus evoked by ocular convergence: an ocular electromyographic study

    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

    (1968)
  • L Berlin

    Compulsive eye opening and associated phenomena

    AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry

    (1955)
  • M Fisher

    Left hemiplegia and motor impersistence

    J Nerv Ment Dis

    (1956)
  • NR Miller
  • DG Cogan
  • JR Keane

    Spastic eyelids: failure of levator inhibition in unconscious states

    Arch Neurol

    (1975)
  • RM Gunn

    Congenital ptosis with peculiar associated movements of the affected lid

    Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK

    (1883)
  • R Parry

    An unusual case of the Marcus Gunn syndrome

    Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK

    (1957)
  • K Sano

    Trigemino-oculomotor synkineses

    Neurologia

    (1959)
  • Cited by (95)

    • The Prominent Eye—What to Watch Out For

      2021, Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America
      Citation Excerpt :

      Upper and lower eyelid retraction enhance the appearance of a prominent globe, contributing the a staring appearance.21 Bartley22 proposed the classification of causes of eyelid retraction as neurogenic (eg, dorsal midbrain syndrome), myogenic (eg, TED), mechanistic (eg, eyelid malposition or globe prominence), and miscellaneous (eg, optic nerve hypoplasia). Although both upper and lower eyelid retraction are related most commonly to TED, upper eyelid retraction is the most common clinical sign of TED.4,21

    • Eyelid and Facial Nerve Disorders

      2018, Liu, Volpe, and Galetta's Neuro-Ophthalmology: Diagnosis and Management
    • Oculoplastic considerations in patients with glaucoma

      2016, Survey of Ophthalmology
      Citation Excerpt :

      The incidence of upper eyelid retraction as a complication after trabeculectomy is lower than that of blepharoptosis, with approximately 16 cases reported in the literature thus far.5,77,80,87,98 This should only be considered a diagnosis of exclusion over more common causes such as thyroid eye disease.8 Mechanical, chemical, and myogenic mechanisms have been suggested.

    • Eyelid Surgery in Thyroid Eye Disease

      2023, Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Presented in part as a poster at the 1994 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, October/November 1994, and read at the One Hundred Thirty-first Annual Meeting of the American Ophthalmological Society, Hot Springs, Virginia, May 1995.

    Supported in part by a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc, New York, New York, by National Institutes of Health grant EYO-8039, Bethesda, Maryland, and by the Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota.

    View full text