Epicanthal Folds
Also known as: eye folds.
What are epicanthal folds?
Epicanthal folds are the folds of skin that run from the upper eyelid to the inner corner of the eye. In some people, they cover this inner corner. This is completely normal in many people, including those of Asian descent and infants. But in some cases, they may be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
What might cause epicanthal folds?
When not naturally occurring, epicanthal folds can be a telltale sign of the following conditions:
- Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
- Turner syndrome
- Phenylketonuria
- Noonan syndrome
- Blepharophimosis syndrome
- Down syndrome
- Williams syndrome
- Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome
How can it be treated?
If epicanthal folds are present, typically no action is needed.
When should you seek medical attention?
If a child has epicanthal folds, and you suspect that another medical condition might be present, you can discuss it with your health care provider.
Reviewed by: Luxme Hariharan, MD
This page was last updated on: September 16, 2025 12:51 PM
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