Ankyloblepharon Filiforme Adnatum

Abstract

2 female term infants, born by vaginal delivery after an uneventful pregnancy, had ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum (bilateral fused eyelids) at birth (Figure 1, Figure 2). They were treated at 2 weeks of age with surgical separation followed by a normal ophthalmic examination (Figure 3). Clinical examination was otherwise normal. Ankyloblepharon is a partial or complete adhesion of the ciliary edges of the upper and lower eyelids and is usually sporadic. Normally the eyelids remain fused until the fifth month of gestation, when they separate. Anomalies occurring between 7 and 15 weeks may give rise to eyelid anomalies.1Mohamed Y.H. Gong V. Ameniya T. Role of apoptosis in eyelid development.Exp Eye Res. 2003; 76: 115-123Crossref PubMed Scopus (24) Google Scholar As well as autosomal dominant inheritance, it is seen in Hay-Wells syndrome (a variant of the ectodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip palate syndrome),2Hay R.J. Wells R.S. The syndrome of ankyloblepharon, ectodermal defects, and cleft lip and palate: an autosomal dominant condition.Br J Dermatol. 1976; 94: 277-289Crossref PubMed Scopus (146) Google Scholar Trisomy 18, and CHANDS (curly hair-ankyloblepharon-nail dysplasia), and has associations with cardiac defects, hydrocephalus, imperforate anus, and glaucoma.3Jain S. Atkinson A.J. Hopkisson B. Ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum.Br J Ophthalmol. 1997; 81: 7Crossref PubMed Google Scholar Although it is an uncommon and benign condition, its presence should alert the clinician to the possibility of these other important disorders.Figure 2Partial fusion of the ciliary edge of eyelids of right eye.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)Figure 3Right eye immediately after adhesion separation.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)