Also called lagophthalmos. The eye cannot close fully after facial weakness.
What it is
When the facial nerve is weak, the eye on that side cannot close fully. The surface of the eye then dries and can be damaged.
Symptoms
An eye that stays partly open, especially in sleep, with redness, grittiness and watering, and a lower lid that sags.
Causes
Bell’s palsy, injury, surgery near the nerve, stroke, or infection.
When to get it checked
Protect the eye straight away with ointment and taping at night, and have it checked soon. The surface can be damaged quickly.
How it is checked
Every plan starts with an examination by a consultant, not a photograph or a questionnaire.
- Your consultant examines your lids, measures their height and position, and checks the surface of your eye and how well it closes. Photographs are taken for your record.
- What your consultant finds is explained in plain English, there and then.
- You leave with a written plan and, where treatment is right for you, a written fee.
- You are never asked to decide on the day.
If surgery is not the right answer, your consultant will say so, and explain what happens if you do nothing.
Questions patients ask
Do I need a referral?
No. You can request a consultation directly. A letter from your GP or optometrist is helpful if you have one, and your insurer may ask for it.
Will I need surgery?
Not always. Your consultant will explain whether treatment is needed, what each option involves, and what happens if you do nothing.
What happens at the consultation?
Your consultant examines your lids, measures their height and position, and checks the surface of your eye and how well it closes. Photographs are taken for your record. You leave with a written plan and fee, and time to decide.
How soon can I be seen?
The clinic team will offer the first suitable appointment, and sooner where your consultant judges it urgent.