[Review of general anesthesia procedures in ophthalmology]

We review the anaesthetic management of patients undergoing ophthalmic examination or surgery. General anaesthesia is administered in patients demanding immobilisation, since uncontrolled movement may rise intraocular pressure (IOP) and thus endanger the overall outcome of ophthalmic care. We discuss the effects of anaesthetics and anaesthesia related medications on IOP before, during, and after eye surgery. Also, we analyse anaesthetic procedures applied in eye injury management, vitreal and strabismus surgery as well as paediatric ophthalmology. Finally, we review the systemic side effects of topical eye medications, the complications of ophthalmic general anaesthesia as well as their prevention.