Care of the eye during anaesthesia and intensive care

Perioperative eye injuries and blindness are rare but important complications of anaesthesia. The three most common ocular complications after general anaesthesia are corneal abrasion, ischaemic optic neuropathy and central retinal artery thrombosis; the latter two are important causes of postoperative blindness. This article aims to improve the readers’ knowledge of orbital anatomy, ocular physiology and the mechanisms of perioperative eye injuries.