Comparison of methods of eye protection under general anaesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
To compare and assess the efficacy of eye ointment and adhesive tape for protection of eyes under general anaesthesia.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty patients (300 eyes) undergoing general anaesthesia for > 90 min for non-ophthalmic procedures were divided randomly into three groups (C, T & O). Eyes in group C were left as control, in group T hypoallergen tape was applied and in group O chloromycetin ointment was used. In all eyes basal tear production and visual acuity was assessed and corneal examination was carried out after fluorescein staining both before and after surgery. All the patients were subjected to a conventional general anaesthesia technique.


RESULTS
General anaesthesia reduced basal tear production irrespective of the method of eye protection used (P < 0.0001). The overall incidence of corneal epithelial defects was 10%, of which 90% occurred in the control group, 6.6% in the tape and 3.3% in the ointment group. There was no difference between pre and post operative visual acuity (P : NS). Corneal injuries were more common in the dependent eye in the lateral position and the incidence of corneal epithelial defects did not alter with increase in duration of surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
During general anaesthesia eyes need protection either by tape or ointment as incidence of corneal injuries is greater in unprotected eyes.
Department of Anaesthesiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical, Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. medinst@pgi.chd.nic.in
V K
VK
Grover
K V
KV
Kumar
S
S
Sharma
N
N
Sethi
S P
SP
Grewal
D000269:Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D000269:Adhesives; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009824:Ointments; D002701:Chloramphenicol