Solutions For Dry Eyes Due To Facial Palsy

Facial palsy is a general term referring to the weakening of the facial muscles. When your facial nerve does not function properly, your facial muscles consequently will not function normally. The affected part of your face can cause paralysis that can impact your mouth, eyes and neck.

One result of facial palsy can be dryness in your eyes, and in extreme cases, damage to your cornea. If you experience facial palsy it is often almost impossible to blink on the affected side of your face where the paralysis occurred. In addition to the loss of blinking ability, your lower eyelid may become droopy. When you can’t blink or close your eyelids, you may suffer from dry eyes due to the loss of lubricating benefits of blinking.

If you suffer from dry eyes as a result of facial palsy, it’s important to take care of the dryness to prevent further damage to your eye health.

Possible Treatments and Solutions For Your Dry Eyes

• Choose an ocular lubricant or eye ointment that has no preservatives in it.
• Employ the use of an ocular eyelid patch or moisture retention eye shield mask. You can use these either at night or during the day, or both.
• Avoid or lessen the use of contact lenses.
• Take frequent breaks from computer work or reading.
• Avoid drafts or ceiling fans and use a humidifier to add moisture back into the air.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Wear protective sunglasses when outside.
• Take omega-3 fatty acid supplements. These are an important component of tears.

If you suffer from facial nerve paralysis, contact Teresa O, MD. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of facial nerve paralysis.