Pediatric hypertelorism

It is important that assessment and treatment for hypertelorism (hy·​per·​tel·​or·​ism) take place in the setting of a multidisciplinary craniofacial team, like we have at Children’s Health℠.

The combination of in-house pediatric plastic surgeons experienced in treating complex craniofacial conditions and pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgeons together with pediatric craniofacial orthodontists, pediatric dentists and developmental psychologists is important to provide the best care for the child.

What is pediatric hypertelorism?

Hypertelorism is a term used to describe an abnormally large distance between the eyes. It refers to the position of the bony orbits, the ‘eye sockets,’ in which the eyes lie, in the skull. Hypertelorism is not a diagnosis in itself; rather, it is a feature that can have many underlying causes, either due to a mass pushing the two orbits apart, a cleft in the bone between the eyes or as part of a syndrome.

When treating a child with hypertelorism, it is important to identify the underlying condition that is causing or has caused it and to assess the current and future impact on the child. We do this by having our multidisciplinary craniofacial team review the child, conducting genetic testing, as necessary, and arranging CT and MRI scans as appropriate to identify the cause and extent of the hypertelorism. Our team uses this information to plan treatment for the child to give the best long-term results.

In-depth look into hypertelorism

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric hypertelorism?

Diagnosis is by both a clinical assessment of the child and imaging of the bones of the skull, most commonly a CT scan. This will allow accurate measurements of the bones that make up the orbit, and to see whether there is an ongoing cause for the hypertelorism that needs early treatment. It will also allow planning for corrective surgery, if needed.

Pediatric hypertelorism doctors and providers