Waardenburg's syndrome consists of lateral displacement of the inner canthi of 
the eyes (dystopia canthorum), a broad nasal root and confluent eyebrows, 
heterochromia iridum, a white forelock and congenital deafness. The syndrome is 
inherited as a dominant, but affected individuals do not necessarily have all of 
the characteristics cited.Five hundred and fourteen pupils at a school for the 
deaf were screened for features of this syndrome. Three cases were discovered. 
Eleven other deaf children were found to have heterochromia iridum and two more 
had white forelocks. The interocular dimensions of the remaining children were 
recorded as standards by which to judge the presence of dystopia canthorum. The 
results of chromosomal analysis in two cases with Waardenburg's syndrome were 
normal.The findings provide further evidence that Waardenburg's syndrome is a 
distinct entity and call in question Mackenzie's concept of a comprehensive 
"first arch syndrome".