The white line/fold seen near the lower eyelid is the Dennie-Morgan fold (also called Dennie-Morgan line or infraorbital fold). Here is a complete explanation:
Dennie-Morgan Fold - The White Line Near the Lower Eyelid
Dennie-Morgan lines (Andrews' Diseases of the Skin Clinical Atlas)
Edematous, erythematous eyelids with Dennie-Morgan folds in atopic dermatitis (Fitzpatrick's Dermatology)
What are Dennie-Morgan Folds?
Dennie-Morgan folds are accentuated lines or grooves (folds of skin) that appear just below the margin of the lower eyelid. They appear as a white/pale fold or crease running horizontally under the eye.
Why do they appear?
The folds form due to persistent rubbing and scratching of the eye area. In atopic (allergic) individuals, the skin around the eyes is chronically pruritic, leading to repeated eye rubbing. Over time, this mechanical trauma causes the lower lid skin to develop characteristic horizontal creases or folds. - Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology, p. 291
What condition are they associated with?
Dennie-Morgan folds are a classic sign of atopy - particularly:
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Allergic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC)
- Allergic rhinitis
They are listed as a minor diagnostic criterion for atopic dermatitis in standard classifications. - Andrews' Diseases of the Skin, p. block1
What else may be seen alongside them?
In atopic patients, Dennie-Morgan folds are often accompanied by:
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Allergic shiners - dark circles/darkening beneath the eyes
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Hertoghe sign - loss of the outer third of the eyebrows
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Facial pallor
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Periorbital puffiness/swelling
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Nasal crease (from "allergic salute")
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Xerosis (dry skin)
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Fitzpatrick's Dermatology, Harriet Lane Handbook
Clinical significance
In ophthalmology, Dennie-Morgan folds are particularly prominent in Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), where they occur alongside eyelid eczema, madarosis (lash loss), chronic staphylococcal blepharitis, and potentially corneal involvement. - Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology
In pediatric medicine, prominent Dennie-Morgan lines in a child, combined with allergic shiners and nasal crease, constitute the classic "allergic facies" appearance. - Harriet Lane Handbook
In summary: The white line/fold near the lower eyelid = Dennie-Morgan fold = a minor criterion for atopic dermatitis, caused by chronic eye rubbing in allergic/atopic individuals.