Age‐related changes to characteristics of the human eyes in women from six different ethnicities

Upper eyelid morphology and age-related changes in Japanese and Chinese females

BACKGROUND

Many consumers use cosmetic eye products to counteract age-related changes in appearance. Measurements of eyelid shape in Asian women have been reported in the frontal view or 45-degree profile only. The aim of this study was to describe morphological characteristics of the upper eyelid in Japanese and Chinese females from the frontal and profile aspects and examine morphological changes with age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Standardized digital photographs of 772 Japanese and 346 Chinese women (15-79 years of age) were acquired in frontal and 90-degree profile aspects. Eleven upper eyelid parameters (e.g., width, length, depth, aperture, and curvature) were measured using image analysis to determine age-related changes and compare by ethnicity.

RESULTS

Eyelid width, area between eyebrow and eyelid, and eyelid curvature were comparable for both ethnicities under age 40, but the aging effect was more pronounced in Chinese subjects. Eyelid height, depth, and upper eyelid aperture angle were also comparable for both ethnicities under age 40, but the aging effect was more evident in Japanese subjects. Upper eyelid incline angle, eye orientation, and upper eyelid protrusion angle changed comparably with age for both ethnicities. No prominent age-related changes were evident for eyelid length or area between eyebrow and eye with the eye closed.

CONCLUSION

Upper eyelid morphology changes with age in Japanese and Chinese females, starting around 40 years of age. Ethnic differences are limited in younger age groups but become more prominent with age. The findings suggest that aging affects some upper eyelid features earlier than others.

The relevance and accuracy of an AI algorithm-based descriptor on 23 facial attributes in a diverse female US population

BACKGROUND

The response of AI in situations that mimic real life scenarios is poorly explored in populations of high diversity.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the accuracy and validate the relevance of an automated, algorithm-based analysis geared toward facial attributes devoted to the adornment routines of women.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, two diversified groups presenting similar distributions such as age, ancestry, skin phototype, and geographical location was created from the selfie images of 1041 female in a US population. 521 images were analyzed as part of a new training dataset aimed to improve the original algorithm and 520 were aimed to validate the performance of the AI. From a total 23 facial attributes (16 continuous and 7 categorical), all images were analyzed by 24 make-up experts and by the automated descriptor tool.

RESULTS

For all facial attributes, the new and the original automated tool both surpassed the grading of the experts on a diverse population of women. For the 16 continuous attributes, the gradings obtained by the new system strongly correlated with the assessment made by make-up experts (r ≥ 0.80; p < 0.0001) and supported by a low error rate. For the seven categorical attributes, the overall accuracy of the AI-facial descriptor was improved via enrichment of the training dataset. However, some weaker performance in spotting specific facial attributes were noted.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the AI-automatic facial descriptor tool was deemed accurate for analysis of facial attributes for diverse women although some skin complexion, eye color, and hair features required some further finetuning.

Quantifying Dermatochalasis Using 3-Dimensional Photogrammetry

BACKGROUND

Creating an appropriate treatment plan for patients with dermatochalasis requires careful investigation of the periocular region. Utilizing photographic documentation can assist physicians in conducting preoperative analysis and managing expectations regarding surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to quantify the periocular characteristics of dermatochalasis patients using standardized 3D imaging and to compare age and sex-related changes in periocular features.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 145 Caucasian patients with periocular dermatochalasis, comprising 48 men and 97 women, aged between 35 and 91 years. Standardized three-dimensional facial photographs were taken using the 3D Imaging system VECTRA M3. Linear dimensions, curve length, angle, indices, and sizes were measured and analyzed, including palpebral fissure height (PFH), palpebral fissure width (PFW), upper lid fold-palpebral margin distance (FPD), upper palpebral margin length (UPML), lower palpebral margin length (LPML), canthal tilt (CT), palpebral fissure index (PFI), upper eyelid area, and ocular surface area.

RESULTS

In the female group, the left-side PFH was slightly larger than the right-side PFH (P = 0.023), but the difference was less than 1mm. The corresponding PFI also showed a difference in the female group (P = 0.009). Statistically significant differences were shown in genders for specific parameters, except PFI (P = 0.251) and CT (P = 0.098). Among males, PFW (R = -0.523, p < 0.001) and LPML (R = -0.514, P = 0.264) decreased moderately with age. The correlation between UPML and age was weak (R = -0.367, P = 0.010). Similarly, among females, moderate correlations were found between age and PFW (R = -0.566, P < 0.001) and LPML (R = -0.537, P < 0.001). Additionally, PFH (R = -0.315, P = 0.002), UPML (R = -0.381, P < 0.001), and ocular surface area (R = -0.457, P < 0.001) showed weak correlations with age.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found that dermatochalasis usually affects both eyes simultaneously, and age is a significant factor in the morphological changes of certain periocular features regardless of sex. The PFI is not influenced by age or sex. These findings may provide useful information for surgical planning and understanding age-related changes in the periocular area.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The Role of Oxidative Stress in the Aging Eye

Given the expanding elderly population in the United States and the world, it is important to understand the processes underlying both natural and pathological age-related changes in the eye. Both the anterior and posterior segment of the eye undergo changes in biological, chemical, and physical properties driven by oxidative stress. With advancing age, changes in the anterior segment include dermatochalasis, blepharoptosis, thickening of the sclera, loss of corneal endothelial cells, and stiffening of the lens. Changes in the posterior segment include lowered viscoelasticity of the vitreous body, photoreceptor cell loss, and drusen deposition at the macula and fovea. Age-related ocular pathologies including glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration are largely mediated by oxidative stress. The prevalence of these diseases is expected to increase in the coming years, highlighting the need to develop new therapies that address oxidative stress and slow the progression of age-related pathologies.

Developing an Artificial Intelligence (A.I)-based descriptor of facial appearance that fits with the assessments of makeup experts

OBJECTIVE

To develop an A.I-based automatic descriptor that detects and grades, from selfie pictures, 23 facial signs, hairs included, as a help to making-up procedures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The selfie images taken in very different conditions by 3326 women and men were used to create (90% of dataset) and validate (10% of dataset) a new algorithm architecture to appraise and grade 23 different facial signs such as lips, nose, eye color, eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair color as defined by makeup artists. Each selfie image was annotated by 12 experts and defined references to train Artificial Intelligence (A.I)-based algorithm.

RESULTS

As some the 23 signs present a continuous or discontinuous feature, these were analyzed by two different statistical approaches. The results provided by the automatic descriptor system were not only in good agreement with the expert's assessments but were even found of a better precision and reproducibility. This automatic descriptor system has proven a good and robust accuracy despite the very variable conditions in the acquisition of selfie pictures.

CONCLUSION

Such automatic descriptor system seems providing a valuable help in making-up procedures and may extend to other activities such as Skincare or Haircare. As such it should allow large investigations to better evaluate the consumers' needs of esthetical improvements.

Changes in the eye contour signs due to age among Mexican women: Comparison with women of other ethnic origins

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the changes in certain ocular signs because of age, among Mexican women and to compare these with those previously obtained on women of other ethnicities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Photographs were taken of the faces of 203 Mexican women of different ages, under standardized conditions. These photographs allowed us to focus and define nine ocular signs, which were then graded by 15 experts and dermatologists, using standardized scales provided by a reference Skin Aging Atlas. Hence, the same protocol, previously used on 3240 women of four other ethnic origins (Caucasian: 600; Chinese: 990; Japanese: 1010; Indian: 300; African: 340), allowed us to compare the results obtained on Mexican women.

RESULTS

The severity of crow's feet wrinkles for Mexican women shows a more intense progression with age than those of women from other ancestries. The lower eyelid wrinkles of Mexican women, that show weak or erratic changes with time, were however found to have higher and significant severity at a young age. Pigmentation disorders of their ocular area were found less pronounced as compared to those of Asian or Indian women. Eye bags were observed with similar slight changes in all five ancestries.

CONCLUSION

The present work confirms that the clinical signs of age for the female eye area develop differently depending on the ethnic origins of the volunteer.

Three-dimensional anthropometric analysis of eyelid aging among Chinese women

BACKGROUND

Eyelid morphology is highly susceptible to aging. Previous studies have described the process of eyelid aging in Caucasians; however, anthropometric data describing aging in Chinese eyelids are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to quantitatively analyze the effect of aging on the eyelids of Chinese women through a three-dimensional (3D) anthropometry.

METHODS

In this prospective, cross-sectional study, 3D photos were captured from 188 healthy Chinese Han women, who were categorized into four age groups. Anthropometric landmarks were identified for the measurement of eyelid parameters, and a unified coordinate system was built into each subject. Linear and angular measurements were computed from the coordinates and were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

An age-related decrease was observed in the ocular width, outer canthal width, palpebral fissure height, and multiple angular measurements. This indicated upper eyelid ptosis, which reduced the lateral and superior visual field. Lateral shift of the upper eyelid arc was not observed. The lower eyelid underwent slight elevation with increasing age. Aging rendered the periorbital region esthetically less pleasing, as shown by changes in the multiple proportion indices computed. Furthermore, an intergroup comparison indicated that eyelid aging was accelerated after the age of 40 years among Chinese women.

CONCLUSION

This study used 3D photography to quantitatively analyze how eyelids in Chinese women changed with age. The anthropometric data collected could help with antiaging cosmetic surgery planning and postoperative assessment.

Evaluating the respective weights of some facial signs on perceived ages in differently aged women of five ethnic origins

BACKGROUND

New gratification assessments, after skincare routines or makeup products, could benefit from innovative methods that could predict the culturally based perceptions of age.

AIMS

To determine the facial signs that most influence the perception of age in women of five different ethnic ancestries, assessed by the same ethnical naïve panel.

PATIENTS/METHODS

The faces of 1351 women, differently aged (18-80 years), from five countries (China, France, India, Japan, and South Africa) were photographed under the same standardized conditions in the five countries. Fourteen to 24 facial signs (grouped under five clusters, ie, Wrinkles/Texture, Ptosis/Sagging, Pigmentation disorders, Vascular disorders, and Cheeks skin pores) were focused, and their respective severities were graded using referential Skin Aging Atlases by the same panel of 15 experts and dermatologists. Five naïve panels, all comprising 100 local women, allowed to collect the perceived age, assessed from blind-coded full-face photographs.

RESULTS

Although perceived ages and real ages were found highly correlated, their differences vary according to ethnicities, particularly among a large part of Indian and South African women, judged older by about 5 and 7 years, respectively. Results show that the clusters of Wrinkles/Texture and Ptosis/Sagging are predominant factors taken into account in almost all ethnicities, albeit at various extents, reaching almost 100% in French women. Pigmentation disorders appear important secondary factors in Japanese, South African, and Indian women. Vascular disorders, of a difficult grading in darker skin tones, were found of some impact in Japanese and Chinese women. Cheek skin pores were of minor or nil weight in the attribution of age, at the exception of South African women. Regarding facial areas which drive aging perception, it seems the upper-half face has prevalence for Chinese and Japanese women whereas the lower-half face has major importance for South African women.

CONCLUSION

Facial traits are differently perceived as signs of aging according to un-separable ethnic ancestries and cultural factors.