Exposure keratopathy following phacoemulsification under local anaesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
Report a series of patients with exposure keratopathy following phacoemulsification under local anaesthesia.


METHODS
A case series.


RESULTS
Four patients were found to have exposure keratopathy within hours after surgery resulting in a visit to the casualty on the day of surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
One should anticipate the possibility of lagophthalmos and assess the blink reflex at the end of surgery. If the reflex is poor, patching the eye or taping the lids should be undertaken to prevent this complication.
Dinakaran
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom. sdinakaran@yahoo.com
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*