Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Looking after your eye when the eyelid will not close | CION Cancer Clinics
If the facial nerve is weak after parotid surgery, the eyelid on that side may not close fully or blink properly. The front of the eye then dries out and can be scratched or develop a sore. Protecting it is simple but must be done every day: lubricating drops while awake, a thicker ointment and gentle taping at night, and glasses outdoors. Pain, redness or blurred vision needs same-day help. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Why does the eye need protecting when the lid will not close?
- What does a day of eye care look like?
- What will you use to protect the eye?
- What do families believe about eye care that can cause harm?
- What should you keep ready at home?
- What if the eyelid stays weak for a long time?
- Common questions about eye care with facial weakness
The short answer
Why does the eye need protecting when the lid will not close?
If the facial nerve is weak after parotid surgery, your eyelid may not close or blink properly, so the front of the eye dries out. You protect it with lubricating drops by day, a thicker ointment and gentle taping at night, and glasses outdoors, every day until the lid works again.
What blinking normally does
Each blink spreads a thin film of tears across the eye and sweeps away dust. Closing the eye in sleep keeps it moist overnight. When the eyelid branch of the facial nerve is weak, both of these stop working well on that side.
What can go wrong without care
The clear window at the front of the eye, called the cornea, becomes dry and rough. It can then be scratched, become infected or develop a sore. A sore on the cornea can scar and affect your sight. Good daily care prevents this in most people.
You may not feel it at first
A dry eye usually feels gritty, sore or watery. Watering can seem strange, but a dry eye often makes extra tears that run down the cheek instead of coating the eye. Do not wait for discomfort before starting care.
This page gives general care. Follow the exact plan your own team or eye doctor gives you.
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Signs that need an eye doctor the same day
If the eye on the weak side becomes painful, very red, or your vision turns blurred or cloudy, or you see a white spot on the clear front of the eye, see an eye doctor that day. Go to an emergency department if you cannot reach one. Do not wait for a routine follow-up, and do not use leftover or borrowed eye drops first.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistEvery day
What does a day of eye care look like?
A simple routine, done every day, protects the eye while the nerve recovers. A family member can help, especially at night.
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On waking
Remove any night tape gently, wash your hands, and clean the lid with cooled boiled water on clean cotton, wiping from the nose outwards. Then put in your drops.
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Through the day
Use your lubricating drops as often as your team advises. Many people set a phone reminder. Try closing the lid with a clean finger now and then to spread the tears.
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Going outdoors
Wear glasses or wraparound sunglasses. Dust, wind and sunlight dry the eye quickly, especially on a two-wheeler. Avoid fans and air coolers blowing straight at your face.
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Screens and reading
You blink less when you concentrate. Take regular breaks from phones, television and reading, and add drops if the eye feels gritty.
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At bedtime
Put in the thicker gel or ointment your team prescribed. Then close the lid gently and tape it the way you were shown, or wear the eye shield given to you.
What you will use
What will you use to protect the eye?
Your team decides which of these you need and how often. Do not change the plan on your own.
Lubricating drops
Artificial tears that keep the eye moist during the day. Preservative free drops are often advised for frequent use, because they are gentler on the eye.
Gel or ointment
Thicker and longer lasting than drops. It blurs vision for a while, so it is mostly used at night.
Good to know
- Keep the tube tip from touching the eye
- Replace it when the team advises
Tape or a moisture shield
Soft medical tape holds the lid closed during sleep. A clear moisture shield sits over the eye and keeps humid air in. Ask to be shown how to use either before you go home.
Glasses
Ordinary glasses or wraparound sunglasses shield the eye from wind and dust outdoors. They are simple and often forgotten.
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Commonly believed
What do families believe about eye care that can cause harm?
"The eye is watering, so it cannot be dry."
A dry eye often waters, because it makes extra tears that spill out instead of coating the surface. Watering is a reason to use your drops, not a reason to stop.
"Rose water, breast milk or castor oil will soothe it."
Home remedies are not sterile and can cause infection in an eye that is already vulnerable. Use only the drops and ointment your team or eye doctor has prescribed.
"A bandage over the eye is the safest thing."
A loose pad can let the lid open underneath and rub the eye. Taping must be done the way you were shown. Ask the team to check your technique before you go home.
"Once the face starts moving, the drops can stop."
The eyelid may still not close fully in sleep even when the face is improving. Ask your team before cutting down.
Keep these at home
What should you keep ready at home?
- The lubricating drops your team prescribed
- The night-time gel or ointment
- Soft medical tape or the eye shield you were given
- Clean cotton and cooled boiled water for cleaning
- Glasses or wraparound sunglasses by the door
- A small mirror to check the lid
- Your operation notes and the helpline number
- The name of the nearest eye doctor
If it lasts
What if the eyelid stays weak for a long time?
If the lid does not recover, or the eye stays sore despite good daily care, small procedures on the eyelid can help it close. An eye or eyelid specialist will assess you.
An eyelid weight
A small, thin weight is placed under the skin of the upper lid. It helps the lid close by gravity when you relax the eye open muscles. It can be removed later if the nerve recovers.
Tightening or partly closing the lids
A sagging lower lid can be tightened so it sits against the eye. In some people, the outer edges of the upper and lower lids are joined with a few stitches to narrow the opening. This can also be reversed.
Who these do not suit
Procedures are usually not needed if the nerve is recovering and the eye is comfortable with drops and taping. Some people are unfit for further surgery. Your team weighs your comfort, sight and health. This page cannot tell you whether your lid will recover or which option fits you.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about eye care with facial weakness
How long will I need to use eye drops?
Until the eyelid closes fully and blinks well again, and sometimes a little longer. For a stunned nerve this is often weeks to months. Your team or eye doctor will tell you when it is safe to cut down. Do not stop on your own just because the face is starting to move.
Can I use any eye drops from the pharmacy?
Use the drops your team or eye doctor recommends. Some drops sold for red eyes contain medicines that are not suited to frequent use on a dry eye. Show the pharmacist your prescription, and do not use leftover or borrowed drops, which may be contaminated.
How do I tape my eye at night?
Ask the nurse or eye doctor to show you before you go home. Usually, after the ointment, you close the lid gently with a clean finger and place soft tape across the upper lid so it cannot open. The tape must hold the lid, not press on the eye. Remove it gently in the morning.
Can I wear contact lenses?
Avoid ordinary contact lenses while the lid is weak. They can dry and scratch the eye further. Wear your glasses instead. In some cases an eye specialist fits a special protective lens, but that is a medical decision made and checked by them.
Is it safe to ride a two-wheeler or drive?
Wind and dust are hard on an eye that does not blink well. If you ride, wear glasses or a full visor and use drops before setting out. Do not drive if your vision is blurred by ointment or the eye is sore. Ask your team when driving is safe after surgery.
Can a family member help with the eye care?
Yes, and it often helps, especially with night-time taping. They should wash their hands first, tilt your head back slightly, and place drops into the pocket of the lower lid without touching the eye. Ask the nurse to teach them before discharge.
Can I bathe and wash my face normally?
Yes, but keep soap and shampoo out of the eye, because you cannot blink them away. Tilt your head back when washing hair, or use a clean cloth for the face. Once the surgical wound has healed, normal bathing is fine. Use your drops afterwards if the eye feels dry.
Do I need to see an eye doctor even if my eye feels fine?
If your eyelid does not close fully, an eye check is sensible even without symptoms. Early dryness on the cornea is not always felt. Your surgical team can arrange this. Afterwards, go back sooner if the eye becomes painful, red or blurry.
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Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- NHS — Bell's palsy
- NHS — Dry eyes
- American Cancer Society — Surgery for salivary gland cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Salivary gland cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Facial weakness after parotidectomy: temporary or permanent?How long the weakness is likely to lastFacial physiotherapy after parotid surgeryGentle exercises while the nerve recoversCaretaker and family guide to surgeryHow family can help with care at homeComplications and red flagsOther signs after surgery that need prompt help
Talk to us
Worried about your eye after surgery?
Tell us what you are noticing. A member of the surgical team will help you work out whether it needs a same-day eye check. One helpline serves every CION centre.