Making a Difference in Eye Care of the Critically Ill Patients

Mariam A Alansari; Mohammed H Hijazi; Khalid A Maghrabi

doi:10.1177/0885066613510674

Making a Difference in Eye Care of the Critically Ill Patients

J Intensive Care Med. 2015 Sep;30(6):311-7. doi: 10.1177/0885066613510674. Epub 2013 Nov 7.

Authors

Mariam A Alansari¹, Mohammed H Hijazi², Khalid A Maghrabi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Adult Critical Care Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia icu_mariam@yahoo.com.
² Department of Critical Care Medicine (MBC 94), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 24212598
DOI: 10.1177/0885066613510674

Abstract

Ocular surface disorders are frequently encountered in patients under sedation and paralyzed patients in intensive care units (ICUs). In the ICUs, treatment is usually focused on the management of organ failures, and eye care becomes a side issue. As a result, ophthalmological complications do occur (incidence ranges from 3.6% to 60%) and are frequently overlooked in this setting. To identify the best available evidence in providing the best eye care to prevent exposure keratopathy, a literature review was performed. The databases of PUBMED, COCHRAN, and EMBASE library were searched. We only looked at higher quality articles. Among various eye care measures that have been advocated to prevent exposure keratopathy, the most effective is the application of polyethylene covers. Early diagnosis and effective treatment will help prevent microbial keratitis and visual loss.

Keywords: corneal injury; exposure keratopathy; eye care; intensive care unit; ventilator eye.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Critical Care / methods*
Critical Illness / therapy*
Eye Infections / etiology
Eye Infections / prevention & control*
Humans
Intensive Care Units