Lagopthalmos

Lagopthalmos is the inability to close the eyelids completely. Today, lagopthalmos is most likely to arise after an inexperienced or unwise cosmetic/plastic surgeon performs an overenthusiastic upper blepharoplasty, which is an operation performed to remove excessive skin overlying the upper eyelid (suprapalpebral hooding)that often occurs with ageing. This can appreciably improve the patient's appearance, and make the patient look younger. If, however, excessive skin is removed, the appearance is unnatural and "lagopthalmos" is one of the signs of such excessive skin removal. Lagopthalmos can also occur in comatose patients having a descrease in orbicularis tone and in patients having palsy of the facial nerve (7th cranial nerve). Lagopthalmos leads to corneal drying and ulceration.