Eyelash Ptosis in Hansen's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Eyelash ptosis(ELP) is a common finding in patients with long-standing leprosy. However, it has rarely been reported in the literature previously, because it has been diagnosed as trichiasis or entropion. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of ELP in Hansen's disease. METHODS: We took both frontal and lateral photographs of eyes in 20 patients and evaluated the degree of ptosis using a 4-point rating scale, in which 0 indicates no ptosis; 1, minimal; 2, moderate; and 3, severe. The evaluation was also performed in 20 normal persons as control group. RESULTS: All patients demonstrated ELP. In general, severity of ptosis in patient group is greater than that in control group. While the mean eyelash ptosis rating was 2.0+/-0.6 in the latter, it was 0.6+/-0.4 in the former, which is statistically significant (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: ELP is common in the patients with Hansen's disease and moderate to severe forms occurred more commonly in disease group compared with control group. ELP must be considered as a characteristic ocular finding in long-standing leprosy.