Preliminary experience with lid magnets for paralytic lagophthalmos

Between February, 1974, and mid-December, 1975, 43 patients with paralytic facial palsy were operated upon with lid magnets, according to a method first devised by Mühlbauer and others (1973). When 37 patients were re-examined 3 months to 2 years post-operatively, 27 had both magnets in situ functioning well. In nine patients one or both magnets had been removed because of return of 7th nerve function. Including our information about those patients not available for re-examination, the method has definitely failed in only four. Cosmetically and functionally the results are subjectively as well as objectively encouraging and appear superior to a lateral tarsorrhaphy.