Orbital Hypertelorism

Also known as: hypertelorism.

What is orbital hypertelorism?

Orbital hypertelorism describes a birth defect where the distance between the eyes is larger than normal.

What causes orbital hypertelorism? 

During development in the womb, a baby’s eyes normally start far apart and gradually move closer together. Any process that interferes with that movement results in orbital hypertelorism.
Orbital hypertelorism can occur as an isolated finding with unknown cause or can be a feature of various genetic conditions.

What are the symptoms of orbital hypertelorism? 

The widely spaced eyes do not typically cause any symptoms though sometimes some children may have vision problems. Psychosocial issues may arise from peer teasing.

What are orbital hypertelorism care options?

A multidisciplinary craniofacial team of oral and maxillofacial surgeon/ plastic surgery/pediatric dentist/orthodontist and developmental psychologist etc will offer your child the best assessment and treatment program.

Reviewed by: Mislen S Bauer, MD

This page was last updated on: June 21, 2019 02:23 AM

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