ABSTRACT

Methods:

Eighteen eyes of 18 patients (8 male, 10 female) who had lagophtalmus due to facial paralysis for various reasons and underwent gold weight implantation to their upper lids between October 2003 and April 2006 in Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, 1st Eye Clinic, Oculoplastic Unit were evaluated prospectively. Patients' ages ranged between 20 and 71 (mean 54). Average follow-up period was 12.2 months. The time of facial paralysis ranged between 2 and 72 months with an average of 15.2 months. In the preoperative and postoperative ocular examination best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, presence and calibration of agophthalmic keratitis in the anterior segment, posterior segment, amount of lagophthalmos, bell phenomenia, tear functions, presence of a pathology which restricts the movements of upper and lower eyelid, corneal sensitivity, trigeminal nerve functions were evaluated. Amount of ptozis related with gold weight implantation was investigated at the last visit. As the surgery method, a golden plaque in the size of 5x12.3 mm and weight of 1 gram, is applied to the upper lid tarsus (Contour TM Gold Eyelid Implants).

Purpose:

To evaluate the visual and functional results of gold weight implantation to the upper lid in lagophthalmos treatment caused by facial paralysis.