Drooping of the Eyelid (P lords) is a paraly sis of the muscle that lifts the lid, which, there fore, hangs over the eye and prevents it seeing properly. Children are sometimes born with it. It is sometimes due to affections of the brain. In cases where children are born with the droop, a small operation may be performed for shortening the lid and preventing it overlap ping the sight too much.
Inability to shut the eyelid is caused by paralysis of the nerve supplying the lids—the seventh nerve (see p. 152). It is usually accom panied by other signs of paralysis of the face (p. 177).
The treatment for the paralysis cannot be discussed here. When, however, the inability to close the lid threatens danger to the eye, by --dust, &c., readily falling upon it, and by drying through exposure. it becomes necessary to stitch the two lids together for a part of their extent, in order to afford some protection to the eyeball.
Twitching of the eyelids may be a mere peculiarity of an individual, or a sign of St. Vitus' dance (p. 182).
Bruises of Eyelids lead to a black eye. The disfigurement resulting may be partly prevented, and at least the discoloration made to disap pear more quickly, by the following method. Immediately after receiving the injury, if pos sible, apply cold-water cloths all over the eye lids, and keep renewing them for some time, from a quarter to half an hour. The object of
this is to prevent bleeding taking place into the substance of the lids and surtounding parts from small vessels that have been burst ; for it is this bleeding that produces the swelling and colour. After an hour or two has passed since the injury, apply warm cloths, not too warm, and keep bathing with warm water as long as one's patience will permit. Before going to bed a thick pad of flannel, wrung out of warm water, should be bound over the injured part. The warm applications should be kept up till the swelling and discoloration have disappeared. All rubbing with lotions, arnica liniments, &c., should be abstained from. They do more harm than good ; and, on a part badly bruised, are apt to lead to suppuration or sloughing. The hot applications are sufficiently stimulating and promote the removal of the effused blood, &c. The most utterly wrong thing to do is to apply leeches or lancet. These draw fresh blood from the vessels, never remove from the part blood already poured out. They make opening for the admission of air, and are invitations to suppuration and death of the part.
Wounds of the eyelids should be treated by a surgeon, since he may so adjust gaping parts as to leave little permanent mark. This is beet done in appropriate cases by stitches.