To compare the efficacy of 3 different eye ointment instillations with eyelid taping and eyelid taping alone to prevent eye complications during surgery under general anesthesia.

A total of 296 eyes of 148 patients who underwent general anesthesia for at least 60 minutes were randomly assigned to 1 of the following 4 groups: group A, eyelid taping alone; group B, eyelid taping with solcoseryl ointment; group C, eyelid taping with carbomer ointment; group D, eyelid taping with lanolin ointment. Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (TF-BUT), conjunctival hyperemia scale (CHS), National Eye Institute corneal staining scale (NSS), and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were prospectively evaluated before and after general anesthesia.

TF-BUT was significantly increased in the group B compared with the preoperative value ( p = 0.035). CHS was significantly decreased in all 3 ointment groups ( p < 0.05) after general anesthesia and the degree was significantly higher in groups B and C ( p < 0.001). No corneal abrasion developed after general anesthesia. However, corneal erosion developed in 20 eyes of previously healthy subjects; 8 eyes (12.5%) in group A, 0 eye (0%) in group B, 2 eyes (2.5%) in group C, and 10 eyes (13.9%) in group D. The occurrence rates of new lesions were significantly lower in groups B and C ( p = 0.035).

Both eyelid taping alone and eyelid taping with eye ointment are effective protection methods against corneal abrasion during operation under general anesthesia. Eye ointment instillation together with eyelid taping shows not only improvement of subjective symptoms but also improvement of objective ocular surface parameters proving to be an effective ocular protection during general anesthesia.