Exposure keratopathy and its associated risk factors in patients undergoing general anesthesia in nonocular surgeries

The most common eye injury during and after general anesthesia is corneal abrasion which can occur at any time after anesthesia and even up to 24 h after it. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and factors associated with corneal injury in patients undergoing nonocular surgery.

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 170 patients, who were admitted to the operating room and met the inclusion criteria, were selected through simple nonprobability sampling. Data collection forms were used in order to assess the incidence of corneal injury and its related risk factors. The National Eye Institute scale with fluorescein paper and cobalt blue light by slit lamp were utilized to examine exposure keratopathy.

Overall, the results showed that the incidence of keratopathy immediately after eye care removal was found to be 64.7% in the operating room, 65.9% in the recovery room, and 41.2% in 24 h after the surgery. Smokers' patients and drug abusers under general anesthesia underwent endotracheal intubation, received more opioids preoperatively, and had more perioperative bleeding and fluid intake. Moreover, in patients who had received more oxygen flow in the recovery room; the rate of keratopathy was higher.

Smoking, drug usage, and receiving endotracheal intubation are the risk factors of keratopathy. Therefore, for high-risk patients and procedures, it is indispensable to both obtain preoperative information and take intraoperative precautions in order to prevent eye injuries. Future studies are needed to demonstrate these finding.