Eye Care in Facial Palsy: A Daily Guide When Your Eye Won’t Close

In facial nerve palsy the eyelid can weaken so the eye doesn’t fully close, and blinking — which spreads tears across the eye — decreases. The result is an exposed eye prone to dryness and dust, and even corneal scratches or ulcers if neglected. That’s why eye protection is one of the most important steps, even before exercises.

Daytime routine

1. Artificial tears several times a day as advised; preservative-free drops suit frequent use.
2. Sunglasses or protective glasses against wind, dust and bright light.
3. Manual blinking: gently close the lid with a clean finger a few times a day.
4. Less screen time — we blink less when focusing on screens.
5. Avoid direct airflow from fans and air conditioning.

Night-time routine

1. Lubricating eye ointment before sleep, as prescribed — it lasts longer than drops.
2. Keep the eye closed gently with medical eyelid tape or a suitable eye shield as your doctor advises, making sure nothing touches the eye surface.
3. Avoid a very dry bedroom.

Don’ts

Don’t rub your eye; don’t use decongestant or steroid drops without a prescription; don’t put ordinary tape directly on the lid; don’t ignore pain or vision changes.

See an eye doctor immediately if you notice

Worsening eye pain, severe redness, blurred or reduced vision, strong light sensitivity, or unusual discharge.

Do exercises help eye closure?

Yes — as nerve signals return, gentle eye closure and controlled blinking help restore control. Find them in our facial palsy exercise guide. Remember: gentle and symmetrical, not squeezing.

Raq includes eye-area exercises in your daily plan, with Arabic video guidance and real-time AI guidance through your camera during each movement. Also read the complete Bell’s palsy guide.