Apparently, narrow eyes can be a sign of health problems

Slanted eyes are a normal eye shape and are common among people of Asian descent. The shape of this eye is determined by the upper and lower eyelids. The upper eyelid is covered by a layer of epicantus. The epicantus layer is the part of the eye that makes a person's eyes narrow. However, it turns out that narrow eyes can be a sign that someone has a certain disease. Anything? Check out the answer here.

Characteristics of slanted eyes that could be a sign of disease

You may be accustomed to seeing some people with slanted eyes around you. Yes, everyone has different physical characteristics, including the shape and size of the eyes. The narrower eye crease is also more common in people of Asian descent.

However, it turns out that not all eyes with narrow folds are considered normal and occur due to genetic factors alone. In certain cases, abnormally narrow eyes can occur along with other health conditions or genetic disorders.

Here are some conditions that cause narrow eyes:

1. Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome or Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which a child is born with an excess of one chromosome 21. That is why, this disease is also known as trisomy 21. This syndrome causes physical and mental development delays.

Down syndrome is one of the most common conditions that causes the eyes to appear narrowed. Children with Down syndrome often have an epicanthic fold at the inner corner of the eye. Therefore, the eyes look slanted or tilted upwards.

In addition, at birth, babies with Down syndrome usually have signs such as a flat face, small head and ears, and a short neck.

Babies with Down syndrome are usually born with a body size that is like the average, but will develop more slowly than most children in general.

2.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can trigger it fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome. This condition can change the appearance of the baby's face, such as narrow eyes or narrow eye openings, a very thin upper lip, a nose that is not sharp or low-boned, and has no recesses above the lips.

In addition, the physical growth of babies with this condition will be slow, both before and after birth. Babies may have difficulty hearing or have other hearing problems. Defects in the kidneys, bones, heart, brain and central nervous system can occur due to fetal alcohol syndrome.

3. Microphthalmia

Microphthalmia is an eye condition that occurs before the baby is born. This condition makes both or one eye very small. Therefore, the eyes of babies born with this condition appear slanted.

Microphthalmia is usually caused by infection or exposure to toxic substances while the baby is still in the womb. Sometimes, this condition is also associated with fetal alcohol syndrome .

In some cases, the eyes may appear completely lost, so that the eyes sometimes look like they are closed. People with this condition may lose some of their vision.

4. Ophthalmoplegia

Ophthalmoplegia is a condition of paralysis or weakness of the eye muscles that occurs from birth (congenital). This condition can affect one or more of the six muscles that hold the eye in place and control its movements.

People affected by ophthalmoplegia have double or blurred vision. Some people may have difficulty moving their eyes in all directions and their eyes appear small.

5.

Slanted eyes can also indicate a condition myasthenia gravis or MG. According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition is classified as a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system and muscles of the sufferer. As a result, nerve and muscle tissue cannot function normally.

Well, one of the characteristics and symptoms of MG is that the eyes look slanted. This is because the eyelids of people with MG tend to droop, causing the eyes to be smaller.

In addition, MG is also accompanied by other clinical symptoms, such as difficulty speaking, swallowing, chewing, feeling tired, having difficulty lifting objects, and having shadowed vision.

6.

Nanophthalmos is a rare hereditary condition that causes the eye to be very small in size. This condition is triggered by a genetic disorder, so it can be inherited. Word nano in nanophthalmos itself is taken from the Greek which means "small".

Nanophthalmos characterized by an abnormal size of the eye and thickening of the choroid and sclera (white part) of the eye. This condition is also one of the factors that increase the risk of other eye disorders, such as glaucoma and cataracts.

How to know the features of unusual slanted eyes?

You may be confused about how to distinguish normal and abnormal narrow eyes. For example, if you have children with slanted eyes, you can first find out whether small eyes are a physical feature of your family and your partner. If not, you can consult a doctor to ensure the health of your child's eyes.

It is important to know that even if you have small eyes, it is not certain that you or your child have the conditions mentioned above. The key, if the eyes look small and look abnormal, or you may be worried about certain things, immediately consult a doctor to get a definite answer.