An accidental tarsorrhaphy caused by acrylic adhesive.

A 10-year old boy accidently splashed acrylic adhesive in his left eye. I separated the eyelids by cutting adherent eyelashes with the use of a biomicroscope for magnification illumination. Tests with rabbits demonstrated that the solvent nitromethane dissolved the adhesions but diluted the glue and led to adhesions between the tarsal portion of the eyelid and the cornea. I used acrylic adhesions successfully for a temporary relief of irritation in a patient with Bell's palsy.