Eyelid Epicanthal Fold

The epicanthal fold is the name for the tiny crescent of skin and underlying muscle that often overlaps the junction of the eyelids at the medial canthus nearest the nose.

It may occur in any ethnic group but is very common in the Asian population, where it is present greater than 95% of the time.

Epicanthal folds are often quite prominent in people of indigenous South American Indian heritage.

Most epicanthal folds are normal strutures whose presence is not an indication for cosmetic surgery except in rare instances where the intent of eyelid surgery is a clear Westernization of the face.