What usually happens is that you awaken one morning and feel that one side of your face is “funny” or not moving right.  When you look in the mirror, you see that one eye is staring-not blinking normally-and that the corner of your mouth sags on that side.  Over the next few days this may worsen, your eye may feel scratchy and teary, and vision on that side may be blurred.  The lower lid may sag or droop.  The skin on that side of your face may become somewhat numb.

Bell’s palsy often heals on its own over the next few weeks or months.  Treatment for this condition depends on the cause of paralysis.  Steroid has been found to improve outcome of this condition.  However, you need to be followed closely for any side effect of steroid.

Often the eye in the affected side cannot be closed. The eye must be protected from drying up, or the cornea may be permanently damaged resulting in impaired vision.  Surgery can be done to place a gold weight or close partial eyelid to prevent such corneal problems.