[Prevention of amblyopia in acute eyelid closure--a new method for keeping the optical axis open by insertion of a small tube].

BACKGROUND

Complete eyelid closure by capillary eyelid hemangioma or ptosis in the first months of life is an indication for acute measures to prevent amblyopia. Since it is sometimes not possible to hold up the affected upper eyelids with adhesive tape (mechanical obstacle, danger of skin maceration in involvement of the forehead) or not sufficiently (intense divergence), an alternative method will be presented for emergency treatment of blockade of the optical axis.

METHODS

The eyelids are kept open mechanically with a cylindrical tube of perspex (scleral immersion shell), which is normally used for echography of the anterior segment and for biometry (immersion technique). After surface anesthesia, it can be readily inserted. Its area of contact to the sclera has the form of a scleral shell. A drop of lubricant is applied into the tube at intervals of about five minutes.

PATIENTS AND RESULTS

In a six-week-old girl with complete eyelid closure owing to a facial hemangioma, adequate eyelid opening could only be achieved by insertion of the scleral immersion shell. In an eleven-months-old boy with complete ptosis and divergence as well as vertical deviation, the optical axis could only be kept open by insertion of the scleral immersion shell and by simultaneous displacement to the temporal side (adhesive tape). The uncomplicated performance for up to two hours daily was initially carried out in the hospital and later by the parents, and could be terminated after five and three and a half weeks, respectively, thanks to improvement due to therapy or spontaneous improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Mechanical eyelid opening by insertion of a scleral immersion shell serves to bridge over the time interval to the onset of spontaneous improvement or the success of a causal therapy. The advantages consist in the good handling, also for parents, the low danger of injury and the ubiquitous and rapid availability (basic equipment of an ophthalmological ultrasonography unit).