Yes, you should use tape to close your eye when you cannot fully close the eyelid.
If you have incomplete eyelid closure (lagophthalmos), you should use medical tape combined with lubricating ointment to protect your eye, particularly at night. This approach prevents serious corneal complications including abrasions, exposure keratitis, and corneal ulcerations 1.
Why Eye Taping is Recommended
The 2013 Bell's Palsy Clinical Practice Guideline provides a strong recommendation for implementing eye protection in patients with impaired eye closure 1. When you cannot fully close your eyelid, your cornea remains exposed to:
- Foreign particle deposition
- Drying and loss of the protective tear film
- Loss of the normal "squeegee effect" that clears debris
- Failure of the lacrimal pump mechanism
How to Implement Eye Protection Properly
The Optimal Approach:
Combine lubricating ointment with tape closure, especially at night 1. This dual approach provides:
- Ointments: More effective at preventing moisture loss than drops, though they blur vision temporarily
- Tape closure: Particularly effective during sleep when you cannot consciously protect your eye
Critical Execution Points:
You must be carefully instructed in proper tape application technique 1. The Bell's Palsy guideline specifically notes that some authors have discouraged eye taping due to risk of corneal damage from poor patient execution, but many have reported successful use when patients are properly trained.
Ensure complete eyelid apposition - the upper and lower eyelids must be fully closed together, and you should regularly check that the closure remains effective 2.
Evidence Supporting This Approach
While the Bell's Palsy guideline notes that no studies found statistical superiority of any single method (sunglasses, drops, ointments, moisture chambers, or taping), the combination approach is widely recommended 1. The guideline emphasizes that moisture chambers and eye patching/taping are "particularly effective when used at night."
More recent evidence from critical care settings supports tape closure combined with lubrication. Studies show that lubricating ointment combined with tape closure (the "open-chamber method") is effective, though closed-chamber methods (like moisture chambers) may be even more protective in high-risk situations 3.
Important Caveats
Watch for Warning Symptoms:
Monitor for burning, itching, eye irritation, vision changes, or pain - these indicate potential corneal injury requiring immediate evaluation 1.
Use Appropriate Tape:
Use hypoallergenic medical tape designed for skin contact. Be aware that even medical adhesive tape can cause skin injuries (blisters) in some patients, particularly older adults 4. If skin irritation develops, consider alternative methods like moisture chambers.
When to Escalate Care:
If supportive care with ointment and taping fails, or if you have severe persistent lagophthalmos, you need detailed ophthalmologic evaluation for advanced interventions including botulinum toxin injections or surgical options 1.
Practical Algorithm
- Immediate protection: Start lubricating ointment (petroleum-based or methylcellulose) every 6 hours
- Nighttime protection: Apply ointment + tape eyelid closed before sleep
- Daytime: Use lubricating drops frequently; consider tape if exposure is severe
- Monitor daily: Check for symptoms of corneal injury
- Seek ophthalmology consultation if symptoms develop or lagophthalmos persists beyond expected recovery
The evidence consistently supports that doing nothing risks permanent vision-threatening complications, while proper tape closure with lubrication provides effective protection with minimal risk when executed correctly 1.