A Novel Approach to Treating Exposure Keratopathy Using Glad Press’n Seal

Abstract

We report a novel technique creating a moisture chamber from Glad Press’n Seal® to treat chronic exposure keratopathy. Exposure keratopathy can be caused by a variety of conditions including eyelid retraction, eyelid colobomas, proptosis, thyroid eye disease, and lagophthalmos. A moisture chamber is an ideal long-term solution for patients that are poor surgical candidates or an excellent temporary solution while the underlying etiology of the disease is treated successfully or as it spontaneously resolves. We describe a representative case demonstrating how Glad Press’n Seal® may be used as a cheap, effective, and user-friendly method to create a moisture chamber. Beyond this single case, more than 20 additional patients have utilized this technique to good effect without reporting skin irritation, typical of adhesive based occlusives. We propose the use of Glad Press’n Seal® as an alternative moisture chamber in patients with chronic exposure keratopathy who fail topical lubrication irrespective of etiology.