[Custom-made gold plate prosthesis in the upper eyelid in patients with facial paralysis: improved eyelid closure with less effects on other eye complaints].

OBJECTIVE

To obtain insight into the results of treatment of lagophthalmos by gold weight implantation in the upper eyelid.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

METHODS

The records of all 37 patients treated in the Netherlands (1986-1998) were reviewed. All traceable patients (n = 33) were sent a questionnaire and invited for clinical evaluation of the treated eye (n = 28).

RESULTS

The average follow-up was 44 months (range: 3-150). Twenty-seven patients (82%) reported improved eye closure. After 6 weeks 13 patients (48%) had no eye complaints (dry eye, epiphora, conjunctivitis). At the clinical evaluation 10 patients (36%) had no such complaints. Nine patients (27%) had to undergo a reintervention because of malposition or spontaneous extrusion of the gold weight. It was removed in 4 of them. Upon closure the average residual palpebral aperture was 1.17 mm (range: 0-5) in the patients with gold weight in situ and 6.00 mm (5-10) in the patients in whom the implant had been removed.

CONCLUSION

A better eye closure was obtained in 82% of the patients, while eye complaints resolved in 36% of them.