Management of lagopthalmus with gold implant: A case report

Blinking covers the eye with a thin layer of tear fluid, thereby promoting a moist environment necessary for the cells of the exterior part of the eye. The tears also flush out foreign bodies and wash them away. This is crucial to maintain lubrication and proper health of the eye. In lagophthalmus, there is inability to close the eyelid and loss of blinking mechanism, thereby resulting in corneal dryness, ulceration, abrasion and infection. It may occur due to facial nerve damage secondary to trauma, iatrogenic due to surgery, tumour or Bell’s palsy. Initial symptomatic management is directed towards ocular surface lubrication. Viscous artificial tears are used or thin polyethylene film may be applied over the eyes to reduce evaporative drying. Temporary or permanent tarsorrhaphy may be required in some cases. Changing the position of either the top or bottom eyelid can help relieve the symptoms of lagopthalmus. A prosthetic procedure involves implanting gold weights into the upper eyelid, which allows the eyes to close by gravity. A case report of management of Lagophthalmus is presented here.

Predicting Factors Influencing Visual Function of the Eye in Patients with Unresolved Facial Nerve Palsy after Upper Eyelid Gold Weight Loading

Implantation of gold weights into the upper eyelid is a proven method of treating lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy in patients with unresolved facial nerve palsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting visual acuity and corneal complications in patients after upper eyelid gold weight lid loading. Material and methods: This prospective consecutive clinical study was conducted in years 2012–2018. In total, 59 people (40 women, 19 men aged 55.5 ± 17.4 years) meeting the inclusion criteria were treated with gold weights. The ordered multinomial logit model was used to analyze the factors affecting best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and degree of exposure keratopathy after surgery. The influence of the following variables was analyzed: patient age, etiology and duration of the facial nerve palsy, history of the previous eyelid surgery, degree of lagophthalmos in mm, presence of Bell’s phenomenon, and corneal sensation, Schirmer test results. Results: Implantation of gold weights into the upper eyelid effectively reduced lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy in the study group (p < 0.001). BCVA was maintained or better in 95% of patients after surgery. Patient age, presence of the Bell’s phenomenon, and corneal sensation significantly affected the final BCVA (p < 0.1). The presence of Bell’s phenomenon and corneal sensation had a positive effect on the degree of keratopathy after surgery (p < 0.1). In turn, patient age and history of tarsorrhaphy were significant negative prognostic factors of exposure keratopathy and BCVA after surgery (p < 0.05). Etiology and duration of facial nerve palsy, degree of corneal exposure in mm, and results of the Schirmer test did not have a significant impact on the outcome after surgery (p > 0.1). Conclusions: The results of our study may help to answer the question of how to direct ophthalmologists and other specialists who refer to ophthalmologists for management advice in patients with facial nerve palsy. Elderly patients with a history of tarsorrhaphy who present with poor Bell’s phenomenon and/or a lack of corneal sensation should be the first candidates for immediate correction of lagophthalmos.

Late outcomes of gold weights and platinum chains for upper eyelid loading

AimTo identify late outcomes of gold weights (GWs) and platinum chains (PCs) for upper eyelid loading in the management of lagophthalmos.MethodsA retrospective case series of upper eyelid GWs and PCs at a single centre over a 10-year period (2004–2013). Two independent, blinded assessors graded standard photographs for any weight-related morbidity (poor upper eyelid contour, weight prominence and migration).ResultsPrimary upper eyelid loading (high-tarsal technique) was performed in 154 eyelids of 136 patients (facial nerve palsy, n=99; non-paralytic, n=37). A total of 127 eyelids of 110 patients had primary GW insertion. Of these, 40.9% (52/127) had revision surgery: exchange of GW for PC (58%), GW repositioning (25%) and removal of GW (17%). Only 22.2% (6/27 eyelids) with primary PCs required revision surgery. In those not requiring revision surgery, photograph grading showed that both GWs and PCs had weight-related morbidity at late follow-up (median=37.5 months, range 12–110 vs median=33.5 month, range 15–106). GWs had significantly higher rate of weight prominence (p=0.001) and migration (p<0.001) compared with PCs. All PC revisions required one procedure only compared with 10% of GWs revisions requiring two or more procedures. Incidence of gold allergy was 7% (8/110 patients). There was no association between the choice of weight material, physical weight or suture material and eyelid morbidities.ConclusionGWs were found to be associated with higher complications and twice more likely to require long-term revision surgery compared with PCs. Despite weight fixation at a high-tarsal location, prominence of PCs can still occur.

Correction of paralytic lagophthalmos

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Bell’s palsy causes lagophthalmos of the involved eyelids. Secondary to the atonicity of the eyelids, xerophthalmia, conjunctivitis and epiphora develops. There are dynamic (muscle transfers) and static (gold weights, tarsorrhaphy) approaches to alleviate these problems. The GOALS of this study are to present a technical note for a surgical method for lengthening the retracted upper eyelid with autogenous temporalis fascia and elevation of the lower eyelid with transplantation of autogenous morselized conchal cartilage graft via standard blepharoplasty incisions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The proposed technique is illustrated in details with an example of a patient with paralytic lagophtalmos. The 4 years follow up of the case operated by this technique shows a stable occlusion of the eyelids with a lowering of the upper eyelid and elevation of the lower eyelid margin. CONCLUSION: If the paralysis is complete this technique will not accomplish adequate relieve of symptoms. In this cases re-animation of the eyelids with either temporalis muscle transfers or free micro neurovascular muscle transfers are indicated.