[Blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome].

PURPOSE: To report the ocular phenotype of blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES).

METHODS

Ophthalmological examination of a 36 year-old proband and detailed family history evaluation, including assessment of available facial photographs of affected relatives, was performed.

RESULTS

There were four affected males and one female in three generations. The proband underwent two surgical eyelid procedures in childhood. Upon our examination, he had symmetrical ptosis with shorter eye lids, and incomplete medial canthal closure. The skin in the inner canthi was scarred, and the medial lower lids slightly everted, leading to malapposition of lacrimal punctae. There was no epicanthus inversus, however it was impossible to determine the status prior to the eyelid surgeries. The best corrected visual acuity was 0.66 and 0.33, in the right and left eye, respectively. The rest of the ocular examination was normal. There was no strabismus. Based on inspection of photographs taken prior to eyelid surgeries, the typical signs of BPES were also present in a son and a nephew of the proband. Photographs of the affected brother were not available, but family history indicated that he had BPES and underwent in his childhood two eye lid surgeries. Atypical ocular phenotype of the probands mother has been published previously.

CONCLUSIONS

Ophthalmologists need to be aware about the phenotype of BPES, with the potential for visual impairment, and the need for personalized management in the affected families.Key words: blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus, phenotype, FOXL2.