Trick of the Trade: Benzoin for opening traumatic, swollen eyelids

Patients who sustain facial trauma often have swollen eyelids. They may be so swollen that it is impossible to pull back the eyelids for an ocular exam. You use one of our "Tricks of the Trade"ideas and attempt to "roll" the upper eyelid using the Q-tip trick  (above).

Fresh blood on the face, however, makes the Q-tip a little slippery along the upper eyelid, preventing an adequate view of the eye itself.