Palpebral fissure length in normal infants.

Somatometric data on the size of palpebral fissure have been presented on 211 normal infants. The palpebral fissure length was derived from the inner canthal and outer canthal distances measured at different age levels. The size of palpebral fissure at birth (1.79 +/- 0.17 cm) is 76.8% of the value attained by it at 4-6 months age (2.33 +/- 0.09 cm), and 76.2% of the size at 10-12 months age (2.35 +/- 0.10 cm). Values for inner canthal and outer canthal distances measured at birth are also presented. The data provided are expected to assist objective evaluation of disorders affecting the size of palpebral fissure during infancy.