Lagophthalmos: an unusual manifestation of oculomotor nerve aberrant regeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a patient with unusual findings after regeneration of the oculomotor nerve.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
A 35-year-old woman developed complete right third nerve paralysis after neurosurgical ligation of internal carotid-posterior communicating and internal carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysms. Permanent ipsilateral lagophthalmos appeared as third nerve function spontaneously recovered.


CONCLUSIONS
Lagophthalmos may rarely develop after aberrant regeneration of the oculomotor nerve, presumably caused by co-contraction of the levator and superior rectus muscles during the Bell's phenomenon.
Custer
P L
PL
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D009802:Oculomotor Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000502:physiology; D015840:Oculomotor Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects