Lagophthalmus

Lagophthalmos is an eyelid malposition in which the eye slit is permanently open. The lower eyelid is affected more often. Part of the conjunctiva and cornea remains uncovered, their surface dries out (there is also a tear film spreading disorder) and inflammatory changes occur – keratitis e lagophtalmo.

Causes

The most common is facial nerve palsy. Other causes include:

• exophthalmos,
• eyelid retraction,
• bulb enlargement,
• general causes(unconsciousness, coma, general anesthesia).

Therapy

• short term: drops, ointments or contact lenses,
• long term: the so-called moist chamber(convex plexiglass, that is firmly glued around the eye – like diving goggles) or tarsorrhaphy (stitching of the eyelids).

Links

Related Articles

• Disturbances in the position of the eyelids
• Dry eye syndrome
• Facial Nerve Paresis
• Endocrine orbitopathy

Recommended Literature

• ROZSÍVAL, Pavel. Ophthalmology. 1. edition. Galén, Karolinum, 2006. 373 pp. ISBN 80-7262-404-0.

• KOLÍN, Jan. Oční lékařství. 2. edition. Karolinum, 2007. 109 pp. ISBN 978-80-246-1325-3.