Eye shield with removable lid.

The prime cause of corneal damage in exposure keratitis is desiccation. This results from failure of the lids to cover the cornea for either mechanical or neurological reasons. In such cases the application of a closely-fitting shield affords considerable protection because a pocket of humid air is trapped in front of the cornea. Several simple occlusive shields have been described utilizing such varied materials as a watch crystal (Buller, 1874), x ray film (Sellinger, I947), thin plastic (Golden, I963), and silicone rubber (Deitz and Meldrum, I965). During the short-term treatment of acute exposure keratitis two conflicting requirements may arise. The eye must be hermetically covered yet readily accessible for observation and the instillation of drops. The two criteria are met by a simple cover made from a Cartella shield and a small plastic pillbox.