What is the treatment for eye problems from facial nerve disorder?
Patients with facial nerve paralysis have difficulty keeping their eye closed because the muscle which closes the eye (orbicularis oculi muscle) cannot work. Serious complications can occur because the cornea of the eye becomes too dry. Treatment consists of: • Protective glasses can prevent dust from entering the eye. • Patients can manually close the eye with a finger to keep it moist. • Patients should use the back of their finger rather than the tip to insure that the eye is not injured. • Artificial tears can help to keep the eye lubricated. • The eye can be taped or patched closed with paper tape while asleep, and an ointment used to keep the eye lubricated. • A temporary or permanent narrowing of the eye opening (tarsorrhaphy) may be necessary.
