Ocular complications following excision of cerebellopontine angle tumours

The incidence of ocular complications in 91 patients who underwent excision of cerebellopontine angle tumours was reviewed. Facial nerve paralysis occurred postoperatively in 40 of 88 patients (45.5%). Sixty-four percent of these patients recovered; thus the final count was 86% of patients with facial nerve function following tumour removal. Patients who sustained a delayed facial paralysis recovered well. In patients who sustained an immediate paralysis when the nerve was left anatomically intact postoperatively, recovery was again excellent if paralysis was incomplete, and varied if the paralysis was complete. Not surprisingly, postoperative facial paralysis was more common in patients who had had large tumours. Corneal hypoesthesia and a poor Bell's phenomenon were the most important factors in predicting corneal complications as a result of facial nerve paralysis. Eye complications in 45% of the patients who suffered facial nerve paralysis were managed conservatively with ocular lubricants and an eye shield only; the others received some form of eyelid surgery.