| Eyecare is of paramount importance to anyone with a facial palsy. Although it is time consuming and fiddley it is well worth the time and effort involved. It is no exaggeration to say that the sight in your eye is at stake.
So what should you be looking for:-
Try closing your eye.
Even if you think it is closed ask someone else to check. Often with facial paralysis the eyelid doesn’t close completely and the eyeball rolls up. It will appear closed to you but other people will be able to see the white of your eye.
For a more natural way of closing the eye first look down and then close the lid gently with a finger. When you remove the finger concentrate on keeping it closed.
Never screw your face up tight to try and force the eye shut this will only cause problems in your cheek.
If you can’t close your eyes then the following applies to you.
What do you do:-
- Use eye drops to keep the eye lubricated.
- Eyebaths with either saline solution or plain water can be soothing.
- Protect from wind and drafts – wraparound glasses are good since the panel protects the eyes from the side as well (these can also be bought to fit over normal glasses)
- Protective or dark glasses also protect from bright light either natural or artificial e.g. the glare off a computer screen. Ski or swimming goggles would have the same effect find the method that works for you. Smoke filled rooms and air conditioning can also create problems.
- Tape the eye shut at night or if it becomes sore during the day – omnifilm or surgical tape is fine. Procedure:- look down, gently close the eye with your finger. Stick it shut with eye ointment and then tape it. You can do both eyes if one alone feels strange.
- If you find taping particularly difficult or are using it most of the day try using eye dressings instead. N.B. do not use a gauze pad near the eye it may cause scratching.
Get professional help as soon as the eye feels sore or if it goes red.
An eye that cannot close or blink properly is very vulnerable. Think how many times a day you blink and each time your eye is cleaned. Shutting your eye protects from foreign objects i.e. dust, the edges of your pillow etc.
Keep asking people to check when your eye can close (particularly in the first 12 weeks). Until the eye can close and blink properly take care of it. Eye care should be started immediately and maintained for as long as necessary. Once it gets infected you can get into a cycle of repeated infections which are extremely painful and damaging.
Some examples of patients who were not given clear eyecare advise:
The patient who had a Bells Palsy – received no eyecare advise and just took painkillers when required. 2 months post onset Botox was injected to close the eye. 1 week later it was still extremely sore. The cornea had split. Although a corneal graft was performed it rejected and the result is a patient blind in one eye.
With careful management this should not happen. |
