Lagophthalmos

What it means

A condition in which the eyelids do not close to cover the eye completely.

Some common causes of lagophthalmos are Bell's palsy and other types of facial paralysis, stroke, infection, and trauma. The inability to blink and effectively close the eyes leads to corneal exposure and excessive evaporation of the tear film. The main purpose when treating lagophthalmos is to prevent exposure keratitis and reestablish eyelid function. {xref="PMID:20590416"}

Rare diseases that can present with this5

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Inability to close the eyelids