[Evaluation of a new lid implant for rehabilitation of the paralyzed eye].

BACKGROUND

Since 1999 the platinum chain is being used as implant to correct lagophthalmos, which promises, due to its flexibility, lower postoperative complications. The lack of mandatory results reported in the literature, prompted us to survey all surgeons using the platinum chain in order to learn of the complications they had experienced.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to 30 surgeons to survey results and complications associated with the implantation of the platinum chain to treat lagophthalmos. Complications like contouring, migration and extrusion of the implant occurred.

RESULTS

Complications observed were bulging of the implant in 12 cases (5,7 %), 4 migrations of the implant (1,9 %), in 7 cases a frank extrusion (3,3 %), a ptosis of the upper eyelid in 8 cases (3,8 %), a corneal astigmatism in 3 cases (1,4 %) and in one case an infection of the upper eyelid (0,5 %). In 2 cases (0,9 %) the patients lamented a mechanical irritation of the upper eyelid.

CONCLUSION

Implantation of eyelid weights is a straightforward and reversible procedure for the surgical therapy of lagophthalmos. Through the use of the platinum chain as implant the postoperative complications are to be regarded as small in total. With that the effectiveness of the procedure can be increased compared to rigid gold implants.