Care of the eye during anaesthesia and intensive care

Perioperative eye injuries and blindness are rare but important complications of anaesthesia. The three causes of postoperative blindness are ischaemic optic neuropathy, central retinal artery occlusion (these two causes can exist in tandem and have been described as ischaemic oculopathies), and corneal abrasion. This article aims to improve the readers’ knowledge of orbital anatomy, ocular physiology and the mechanisms of perioperative eye injuries.