Abstract
A limited ability or chronic inability to close one‘s eyelid leads to development of lagophthalmos. Lagophthalmos is a complex disorder during which the eyelids remain partially open, and parts of the cornea and bulbar conjunctiva remain permanently exposed.
In cases of lagophthalmos, the surface of the eye is not sufficiently moisturised with tears and its natural protection is thus impaired. The resulting drying of the eye affects primarily the corneal and conjunctival epithelium.
This leads to chronic epithelopathy, complicated by chronic inflammations of the cornea. This chronic process can result in a corneal ulcer, possibly leading to perforation of the cornea, with all the associated negative consequences for the ocular functions.
The aetiology of lagophthalmus is varied. It can be caused by both anomalies in the eyelid itself, as well as systemic conditions.
An ophthalmologist is most likely to encounter lagophthalmus caused by peripheral palsy of the facial nerve (cranial nerve no. VII - facialis), where the primary disruption is to the function of the muscles closing the lid.
In those cases, lagophthalmos is a part of the complex disruption of the integrity of the eyelid and its surroundings. The therapy of some forms of lagophthalmos is often problematic and protracted.
The mail goal of ophthalmologic treatment is maintaining the integrity of corneal and cunjunctival epithelium.