The role of external eyelid weights in acute facial palsy: functional and aesthetic considerations.

Purpose: Patients with acute paralytic lagophthalmos are at high risk for ocular surface breakdown due to exposure. External eyelid weights are a temporary solution for paralytic lagophthalmos that aim to reduce exposure and optimize blink excursion. Despite easy application and high efficacy, this product is under-utilized in clinical practice with few physicians employing this treatment adjunct.

Trauma induces overexpression of Cx43 in human fetal membrane defects.

Objective: We developed an in vitro model to examine whether trauma induces connexin 43 (Cx43) expression and collagen organisation in the amniotic membrane (AM) of fetal membrane (FM) defects.

Method: Term human FM was traumatised in vitro. Cell morphology and Cx43 were examined in the wound edge AM by immunofluorescence (IMF) confocal microscopy and compared to control AM.