Transfer of the temporal muscle for lagophthalmos according to Gillies

For correction of lagophthalmos different methods have been described such as gold weights, palpebral spring and magnets. Using the transposed temporal muscle is superior to implantation of foreign material. We present a method for correction of lagophthalmos that combines static support with dynamic function. During the last eight years we performed transposition of the temporal muscle in 17 patients. The anterior part of the temporal muscle has been transposed. Corneal irritation and epiphora disappeared in all patients, although a complete correction of lagophthalmos could not be achieved in each case. Chewing was not impaired and closure of the eye could be performed independently from chewing. Because of its low morbidity the transfer of the temporal muscle is the procedure of choice for repair of lagophthalmos.