What is the name of the eye drops they use when you're having surgery so your eyes won't dry out?

Question

They use this instead of taping your eyes shut <<<<shutter>>>>

Answer 1

Interesting question!!!

I found a list of methods of eye protection during general anaesthesia in this article: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob...

Scroll down to the bottom of the article (right above references) and a list is given, including advantages and disadvantages of each.

I&#039;ll list them here in case the article link doesn&#039;t work for you:

MANUAL CLOSURE OF THE EYELIDS--

• Avoids trauma to the eye and eyelids

• Avoids chemical injuries associated with tapes, gels and ointments

• Ineffective in 59% of patients because of lagophthalmus

• Unsuitable for operations on the head and neck, and on patients in the lateral or prone position

TAPING THE EYELIDS CLOSED--

• Protects the eye from exposure keratopathy, chemical injury and trauma

• Inadequate taping results in exposure keratopathy

• Possibility of placing the tape directly onto the cornea

• Trauma to eyelashes and eyelids on tape removal

TAPE APPLIED ACROSS THE UPPER EYELID ONLY--

• Protects the eye from exposure keratopathy

• Does not adequately protect the eye from chemical injury or trauma

• Unsuitable for operations on the head and neck, and on patients in the lateral or prone position

BIO-OCCLUSIVE DRESSINGS--

• Protects the eye from exposure keratopathy, chemical injury and trauma

• Inadequate application results in exposure keratopathy

• Possibility of placing the bio-occlusive dressing directly onto the cornea

• Trauma to eyelashes and eyelids on removal of the dressing

OPHTHALMIC OINTMENT--

• Equally effective at preventing corneal abrasions as taping the eyelids closed

• Allows continuous perioperative monitoring of the eye during nasolacrimal and functional endoscopic sinus surgery

• Long ocular retention time

• Reports of chemical injuries to eyes following the use of ointments containing the preservatives, methylparaben and chlorambutanol

• Causes blurred vision in 55–75% of patients

• Causes a foreign body sensation in 25–62% of patients

METHYLCELLULOSE AND HYDRO GELS--

• Equally effective at preventing corneal abrasions as taping the eyelids closed and ointments

• Increase in tear-film stability

• Relatively short ocular retention times

• Causes a foreign body sensation in 2–3% of patients

HYDROGEL DRESSING--

• Allows continuous perioperative monitoring of the eye during nasolacrimal and functional endoscopic sinus surgery

• Not as effective as ointment in preventing corneal abrasions

• Dressing becomes adherent to underlying tissues if permitted to dry out

EYE PADS, WITH OR WITHOUT SHIELDS--

• Reduces the risk of mechanical injury

• Must be used with either taping the eyes closed or instillation of ointment/gel to adequately protect the eye

HYDROPHILIC CONTACT LENSES--

• Equally effective at preventing corneal abrasions as taping the eyelids closed and ointments

• Increase in tear-film stability

• Risk of trauma on insertion and removal of the lens

SUTURE TARSORRHAPHY--

• Protects the eye from exposure keratopathy, chemical injury and trauma, particularly during head and neck procedures

• Causes trauma to the eyelids

• Limits compensatory proptosis of the eyeball in the event of periorbital oedema