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. 2012;25(78):36.

Taping an eyelid closed

Sue Stevens 1
PMCID: PMC3483612  PMID: 23139453

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Sue Stevens

Before performing any eye procedure

  • Wash your hands (and afterwards too).

  • Position the patient comfortably with head supported.

  • Avoid anything that may distract you or the patient.

  • Ensure good lighting.

  • Always explain to the patient what you are going to do.

Reasons for taping an eyelid closed

  • To protect an eye with an anaesthetised cornea.

  • To avoid exposure keratitis, e.g., when normal eyelid closure cannot be achieved.

    •To aid healing of an epithelial defect.

  • To assist eyelid closure under an eye pad.

You will need

  • Scissors

  • Waterproof adhesive tape: 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) wide

NOTE: Use only lightweight tape, as others are likely to cause a reaction when used on the sensitive skin of the eyelids.

Preparation

  • Carefully explain the procedure to the patient so she or he understands what will happen. It can be very alarming to find that your eye cannot open!

  • Ensure the eyelid skin is clean and dry.

  • Ask the patient to close both eyes.

Method

  • Cut a piece of tape approximately 4 cm long (Figure 1).

  • Hold the tape horizontally. Apply the top half of the tape to the lower half of the eyelid (Figure 2).

  • Secure the bottom half of the tape to the skin below the lower eyelid (Figure 3).

  • Check that closure is effective by asking the patient to open both eyes (Figure 4); this should be impossible for the taped eye.

  • Reassure the patient again by reminding her or him of the aim of the procedure.

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

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Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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Figure 3.

Figure 3.

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Figure 4.

Figure 4.

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NOTE: The tape can become loose over time, so replace as necessary.

Community Eye Health. 2012;25(78):36.

Tape correction for lower eyelid entropion

Before performing any eye procedure

  • Wash your hands (and afterwards too).

  • Position the patient comfortably with head supported.

  • Avoid anything that may distract you or the patient.

  • Ensure good lighting.

  • Always explain to the patient what you are going to do.

Reasons for this procedure

Entropion is the turning in of the edges of the eyelid (usually the lower eyelid) so that the lashes rub against the eye surface. This procedure provides temporary correction of lower lid entropion in order to:

  • relieve discomfort

  • avoid corneal abrasion caused by the interned lashes (trichiasis).

You will need

  • Scissors

  • Mirror

  • Waterproof adhesive tape: 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) wide

NOTE: Use only lightweight tape, as others are likely to cause a reaction when used on the sensitive skin of the eyelids.

Preparation

Sit or stand the patient comfortably and offer the mirror as a teaching aid.

Method

  • Cut a piece of tape about 3 cm (approximately 1.2 inches) in length.

  • Gently evert (turn out) the lower eyelid to its former, normal position.

  • Apply one end of the tape to the skin about half a centimetre (5 mm or about 0.2 inches) below the centre of the lower eyelid.

  • Pull gently downwards on the tape, creating a horizontal fold in the skin below the eyelid (Figure 1).

  • Secure the remainder of the tape to the facial skin, maintaining the skin fold (Figure 2). This should correct the lower eyelid position.

  • Ask the patient to close, and then open, both eyes naturally. This will indicate whether the taping is effective and secure enough. It should still allow the eye to close completely.

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

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Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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REMEMBER!

Patients will have to learn to do this themselves. Allow them to practice a few times under your supervision. Remind them how important it is to replace the tape regularly in order to maintain the benefit. Ensure the patient has a supply of tape. Remind the patient to check that the taped eye can still close completely, as they could otherwise be at risk of exposure keratitis.

Articles from Community Eye Health are provided here courtesy of International Centre for Eye Health

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