ProblemIn this study, the authors investigated the feasibility of restoring function by direct electrical stimulation of the paralyzed orbicularis oculi muscle in the dog model.MethodsSeven mongrel dogs underwent bilateral surgical resection of a 1cm portion of their proximal facial nerves followed by bilateral placement of an electrical pacing device with electrodes placed directly into the orbicularis oculi muscles. One eye was stimulated and the other used as a control. The eye was stimulated for 24 hours daily for 90 days. The function of the electrical stimulation in reproducing a normal protective blink was then graded on a scale of 0 to 3. The worst grade of 0 was assigned if no movement or only the slightest twitch could be visualized in the eyelid, a grade of 1 with slight closure, 2 for a protective blink and 3 for overclosure.ResultsA total of 22 eyelids were stimulated and graded in the 7 dogs. The overall average blink grade in the stimulated eyes was 1.7 and the range of the averages was from 0.06 to 2.8. An average blink grade in all the unstimulated eyes was 0. Thirty‐two percent of the stimulated eyelids obtained a blink considered to be protective or obtained over closure corresponding to a blink grade of 2–3.ConclusionAlthough current spread leading to a poor functional result was a common problem, the results when this complication could be overcome were very encouraging. To our knowledge this represents the first report of functional electrical stimulation of the paralyzed orbicularis oculi muscle on a continuous basis for 90 consecutive days.SignificanceThe findings of this study support the feasibility of employing direct electrical stimulation to restore the function of the orbicularis oculi muscle.SupportThis study was funded through a grant from Medtronics, Inc (Minneapolis, MN)