Protecting your eye

Blinking is the eye’s maintenance system: it spreads tears, clears dust, and keeps the cornea — the clear window at the front — healthy. When facial paralysis weakens the blink or stops the lid from closing, that system goes offline.

An unprotected cornea can become dry, scratched, and eventually scarred, which can threaten vision itself. The good news: with a simple daily routine, almost all of this is preventable. It just has to start early.

See a doctor or eye specialist promptly if the eye becomes red or painful, vision turns blurry, it feels like something is stuck in the eye, or it waters constantly.

These are signs the cornea is struggling — and caught early, they’re very treatable.

Preservative-free artificial tears through the day keep the eye moist and comfortable — many people use them every hour or two at first. Keep a bottle in every bag and by every desk so it’s never a chore to find one.

Sunglasses (or any wraparound glasses) help outdoors by blocking wind and dust the blink would normally handle. Some people also gently close the lid with a clean fingertip now and then — a “manual blink.”

Night is when the eye is most at risk, because nobody blinks in their sleep. A thicker lubricating ointment before bed lasts much longer than drops.

If the lid doesn’t close, ask your provider to show you how to tape it shut safely — ointment first, then medical tape, gently but securely — or whether a moisture chamber or protective goggles would suit you better. It feels strange for a night or two, then becomes routine.

If eye closure is affected at all, an ophthalmologist visit is worth asking for — they can check the cornea directly and tailor the routine to your eye.

And go urgently if any warning sign appears: pain, redness, or a change in vision. With the eye, “get it checked” always beats “wait and see.”