Placement of gold eyelid weights (GWs) is an effective minimally invasive method for protecting the cornea in paralytic lagophthalmos (PL). Potential complications of this surgery include nonspecific inflammatory response (NIR), implant dislocation and eruption, and others. Timely detection, monitoring, and management of these complications require assessment of eyelid tissues, GW capsule and GW position using ultrasonography.

PURPOSE

Sonographic evaluation of the results of GW placement in patients with PL.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 20 patients (20 eyelids) with chronic facial palsy (CFP) and PL who underwent ultrasound examination (high-resolution gray-scale B-scan, color Doppler mapping (CDM), three-dimensional color Doppler, echodensitometry, ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) of the upper eyelid) in the long-term (2 to 13 years) after the placement of a multi-segment gold eyelid weight made of 999-purity gold (99.99% pure metal).

RESULTS

This study characterizes ultrasound diagnostic features that allow determining the GW size and echodensity, GW capsule, anterior lamella, as well as the vascularization of surrounding tissues. The study also describes the imaging features of upper eyelid tissue with proper GW placement in the primary fixation site, and in cases of its dislocation and exposure.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound imaging methods provide reliable visualization of the GW and upper eyelid tissues in both uncomplicated and complicated cases involving implant disclocation or tendency to exposure. These methods show promise for identifying risk factors for implantation-related complications and require further investigation.