[Age-related Changes in the Mucocutaneous Junction and the Conjunctivochalasis in the Lower Lid Margins]

Purpose: We investigated the age-related changes in the mucocutaneous junction and the conjunctivochalasis at the lower lid margin, and whether there is a correlation between the two or not.

Subject And Methods: Sixty eyes of sixty patients without ocular surface disorders were examined and they were divided into six groups by age (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-79 years old) and sex(five males and five females in each age group). The lower lid margins were divided into three parts(the temporal third, the middle third, and the nasal third) and the anteroplacement of the mucocutaneous junction and the conjunctivochalasis were graded 0, 1, 2 and 3.

Result: In each part of the lower lid margins, there were significant age-related increases in both parameters(p < 0.005, p < 0.0001 respectively). Also, the grade of the anteroplacement of mucocutaneous junction increased with the grade of conjunctivochalasis.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that there is a relationship between the anteroplacement of the mucocutaneous junction and the conjunctivochalasis with aging.