Taping Eye During Day

[Patriots2]

Hi all.

I'm new to the forum and have complications several of you.  I pray you recover soon. The question is this - is it OK to tape an eye shut during day and night?  It's the only way not to endure lots of pain (even on antibiotics and steroids).  Also, what would you suggest as the method for taping shut?  Thank you in advance for your consideration and time.  God bless.

[Jill Marie]

On break at work so can't type much now.  Please give us more info about your eye so we can help.  Please check out several of the links in the eye issues about scleral lens and daily lens, these could possibly help you.  Would check with eye doctor about taping eye day and night, I've been told not to because it can cause infections.  Good luck and keep in touch.  Jill

[Patriots2]

Hi Jill.

Thank you for the reply.  The reason I was taping the eye (covered with patch) shut day and night is due to extreme irritation pain when it's open.  Here's a list of what the condition/medication status is like following the removal of a 2.5 CM AN tumor a few weeks ago:

  * Right side facial paralysis (face drops can't smile);
  * Right eye will not move by itself - stays wide open (need to push lower lid to close upper);
  * Ophthalmologist has prescribed Gatifloxacin & Tobramycin (up to 4X day right eye);
  * Also prescribed daily contact for right eye (blurry but keep them in)

That summarizes the condition.  Again, it was pain/light sensitivity that pushed me to tape eye shut (while wearing eye patch to avoid pain (with daily wear contacts).  Should I still tape at night or look for dark goggles?

If anyone has any perspective on how you would handle the situation, please let me know.  Your time and consideration is greatly appreciated).  Thank you.

[Kerrybr92]

I have to say that personally I would not tape it during the day.  I would recommend that you use lacrilube or some other lube in it.  That should provide enough moisture to reduce the pain.  But it does come at a cost, you really can not see out of it.  I did that for the first year after my surgery to give my facial nerve time to heal. But once we realized that despite animation coming back into my face, my eye still did not close all the way and even worse it was not producing tears I got fitted for a scleral lens.  I have loved it. In fact it truly changed my life.  I work with the Boston Foundation for Sight.  They are in Needham MA. but they also have satellite office around the country.  There are salsa many other eye doctors that offer them.  They are a large hard lens that you put saline in before inserting.  Once inserted your eye is bathed in the saline all day.  There is no pain and your cornea will not dry out.

Good luck.

[Patriots2]

Thank you very much.  I will look into scleral lens at upcoming doctor visit.  One last thing, is it ok to wear an eye patch (that doesn't come into contact with eye - it's concave) over the eye that doesn't close during the day to help with overall sight (even though it's only one eye)?

Thanks again.

[Kerrybr92]

I can't imagine that the eye patch would be a problem. Just please make sure that your eye is being kept wet with drops or lube.  The cornea can dry out very quickly.

Good luck.

[Patriots2]

Thank you all for your time and responses.  Had an emergency visit last night and the doctor decided to put in a cellar membrane for a week to help with healing cornea.  Anyone have experience with this method?

Thanks again.  You are a wonderful community for shared support. Hopefully, I'll be able to contribute someday.

[Kristena]

Hi Patriots2, I know from experience how painful the eye issues can be! It was truly the worst part of my experience. I have a couple of suggestions. If someone recommends an eyelid weight, I would take them up on it. I was too vain, but I wish I had. It's just a theory, but I think the fact that it helps your eyelid produce a natural movement will help your nerves heal properly (assuming your facial paralysis is temporary...was your nerve severed or intact following surgery?)

Along those same lines, try to remember to close your eyelid downward gently with your fingertips instead of pushing your bottom lid up. I know it's easier to push from the bottom, but I think you start to get your cheek muscles involved, which may increase the chance of synkinesis. Again, these are just my theories and not proven.

Use small, natural movements as you are healing instead of trying to get your facial muscles to do something they are not currently wired to do. Even as your nerves start to regenerate, don't force anything. It will all come back as much as it supposed to, but you don't want the extra unwanted facial movements if you can avoid it. I wish you the very best!

[feline]

I agree on taping the eye closed at night and make scruchie faces every night 10x to help ur eye want to close, has anyone ever had there tarrosphay reversed after their eyelid implant and if so how soon after and was that a good idea?
Feline

[JLR]

Hello. I tape my right eye every night. I use PM Refresh ointment. It gas a higher percentage of petro jelly as well as mineral oil to keep my eye moist. The tape: 2 itch piece gently place on eyelid while holding your lid down. The tape is micro pore 3m. It's one inch wide. It really helps. During the day I no longer need the tape but I use gel drops to keep eye moist. Hope this helps. Joan oh, I used many different ointments and I found Refresh PM the best. CVS has it for 19.00 but supermarket has it for $11.00!!!!

[Patriots2]

Hi all. 

Thank you for all your responses.  I gave up on taping because it seems like that caused the infection, epethelia deterioration and corneal abrasion (ouch).  As a result of all that, after having the Membrane in the eye (helped a little) the doctor sewed my eye shut for a week and a half.  This helped with epithelia/cornea recovery.  Since that time, have been using a moisture chamber (one eye) at night, instead of taping.  Lots of options on them online if you look.

Next steps, as Kristena mentioned, will be to get a gold weight in the eye soon. The right side of the face/eye has minimal movement.  Lastly, has anyone purchased a pair of moisture chamber glasses or sunglasses?  It seems like they would be ideal for going outside and/or working on a CPU for most of the day.  Hope all is well.

[doody73]

My right eye still doesn't close all the way after 6 years. I've seen several ophthalmologists. One said gold weights and Restatsis. She also referred me to a specialist about the gold weights. That doctor said that would be the worst thing I could do and that my eye would continue to improve over time. He was correct. The Restasis, on top of being VERY expensive, burned when I put it in my eye and did not help at all. I finally saw another doctor who felt that tear duct plugs were the way to go. That did help.

I don't use a patch or tape my eye shut at night. I do wear a patch during the day if I am doing a lot of computer work. I try to vary the brand/style (must be cute and colorful) because the adhesive irritates my skin. If I don't put a patch on I tend to scrunch that eye closed, which leads to problems with the muscles on that side of my face.

I can wear a daily use contact for about 2 hours before my eye starts to hurt and I have to remove it. I think I will ask my doctor about a scleral lens.

[Jill Marie]

Howdy doody, (couldn't resist saying that) anyway, I don't know why they suggest Restasis for people with our dry eye issues, makes no sense to me.  Why put us threw the pain and cost. 

I use the daily lens with eye ointment, you might try that or some thicker eye drop.  Looking into the scleral lens is a good idea.  We all have to keep trying different things tell we find what works for us.  Thankfully we have this board to help us see what we can try and what works for others.

Good luck, Jill Marie

[lablove]

I used Glad Press n Seal over my affected eye 24/7 for over a month postop along with refresh pm ointment. I liked having some light come in rather than using a patch. I will forever be grateful to the savvy nurse at University of Iowa who showed me the virtues of Glad Press n Seal!!!! I graduated to using a moisture chamber clip on for my sunglasses and now after 3 months I am able to just load up on refresh pm ointment along with a tear duct plug. I am post midfossa removal 3 months....the eye has been the most challenging for sure!