Use of isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive to stabilize external eyelid weights in temporary treatment of facial palsies.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a technique for stabilizing external eyelid load weights with isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive for the temporary treatment of facial palsies.


METHODS
This was a nonrandomized, prospective study of six consecutive patients with unilateral facial paralysis treated with external eyelid load weights stabilized with isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive instead of adhesive tape. Follow-up assessment included corneal exposure, patient comfort, amount of artificial tear usage, and complications associated with the weights.


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 retained for a mean of 10.7 days. Two patients had difficulty with the weights; one was secondary to dermatochalasis and blepharoptosis obscuring his vision, and the other patient's weight fell off after 1 day. No weights were lost.


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 and for determining the correct weight for implantation. Furthermore, isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive used to stabilize external eyelid weights is better tolerated and lasts longer than the previously described fixation method with adhesive tape.
Shepler
T R
TR
Department of Ophthalmology, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco 94115, USA.
Seiff
S R
SR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002015:Bucrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005143:Eyelids; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D013635:Tantalum; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014894:Weights and Measures
D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D002015:Bucrylate; D013635:Tantalum