Loss of eyelids, partial or complete, refers to the absence or damage of one or both eyelids, which can lead to a range of complications, including vision loss, corneal damage, and infection. The causes of loss of eyelids can vary, and some of the common causes include:
Some people might experience partial or complete loss of eyelids due to the following reasons:
Congenital ptosis
A condition present at birth that causes the eyelid to droop due to problems with the muscle that lifts the eyelid.
Acquired ptosis
A condition that develops over time due to aging, trauma, or various medical conditions.
Microphthalmia and anophthalmia
A condition where one or both eyes do not develop fully or are missing.
Lagophthalmos
A condition where the eyelids do not close completely or abnormally.
The signs and symptoms include:
Diagnosing loss of eyelids, partial or complete, involves a thorough eye examination, including a visual acuity test, a pupil examination, and an assessment of eye movement. The doctor may also perform additional tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, to determine the underlying cause of the condition. Treatment options for loss of eyelids depend on the underlying cause and may include surgery, medication, or the use of artificial tears to keep the eyes moist.
Separately evaluate both visual impairment due to eyelid loss and nonvisual impairment, e.g., disfigurement (diagnostic code 7800), and combine the evaluations.
| Description | Percentage |
|---|---|
|
With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with six or more characteristics of disfigurement |
80 |
| Description | Percentage |
|---|---|
|
With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with four or five characteristics of disfigurement |
50 |
| Description | Percentage |
|---|---|
|
With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with two or three characteristics of disfigurement |
30 |
| Description | Percentage |
|---|---|
|
With one characteristic of disfigurement |
10 |
Note (1): The 8 characteristics of disfigurement, for purposes of evaluation under §4.118, are:
Scar 5 or more inches (13 or more cm.) in length. Scar at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm.) wide at widest part.
Surface contour of scar elevated or depressed on palpation.
Scar adherent to underlying tissue.
Skin hypo-or hyper-pigmented in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).
Skin texture abnormal (irregular, atrophic, shiny, scaly, etc.) in
an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).
Underlying soft tissue missing in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).
Skin indurated and inflexible in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).
Note (2): Rate tissue loss of the auricle under DC 6207 (loss of auricle) and anatomical loss of the eye under DC 6061 (anatomical loss of both eyes) or DC 6063 (anatomical loss of one eye), as appropriate.
Note (3): Take into consideration unretouched color photographs when evaluating under these criteria.
Note (4): Separately evaluate disabling effects other than disfigurement that are associated with individual scar(s) of the head, face, or neck, such as pain, instability, and residuals of associated muscle or nerve injury, under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) and apply § 4.25 to combine the evaluation(s) with the evaluation assigned under this diagnostic code.
Note (5): The characteristic(s) of disfigurement may be caused by one scar or by multiple scars; the characteristic(s) required to assign a particular evaluation need not be caused by a single scar in order to assign that evaluation.
| Description | Percentage |
|---|---|
|
With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with six or more characteristics of disfigurement |
80 |
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