Tr. Shepler et Sr. Seiff, Use of isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive to stabilize external eyelidweights in temporary treatment of facial palsies, OPHTHAL PL, 17(3), 2001, pp. 169-173
Purpose: To describe a technique for stabilizing external eyelid load weigh
ts with isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive for the temporary treatment
of facial palsies.
Methods: This was a nonrandomized, prospective study of six consecutive pat
ients with unilateral facial paralysis treated with external eyelid load we
ights stabilized with isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive instead of adh
esive tape. Follow-up assessment included corneal exposure, patient comfort
, amount of artificial tear usage, and complications associated with the we
ights.
Results: Of the six patients studied, five had decreased corneal exposure,
decreased artificial tear usage, and increased patient comfort with use of
the weights. One patient had no improvement of symptoms. Weights were retai
ned for a mean of 10.7 days. Two patients had difficulty with the weights;
one was secondary to dermatochalasis and blepharoptosis obscuring his visio
n, and the other patient's weight fell off after 1 day. No weights were los
t.
Conclusions: The use of isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive is a simple,
quick, and inexpensive method for placement of external eyelid weights for
temporary treatment of ocular exposure associated with facial paralysis an
d for determining the correct weight for implantation. Furthermore, isobuty
l cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive used to stabilize external eyelid weights i
s better tolerated and lasts longer than the previously described fixation
method with adhesive tape.