Please confirm that an ethics committee approval has been applied for or granted: Not relevant

Background and Aims Eye injuries, such as corneal abrasions, are easily preventable and recognized complications of general anesthesia (GA). This audit investigates the effectiveness of eye protection measures used during GA at University Hospital of North Midlands, focusing on the incidence of postoperative eye symptoms and how it was managed.

Methods Data were collected from 51 GA cases between April 25, 2024, and May 15, 2024, at County and Royal Stoke Hospitals. The audit assessed the type of eye protection used, patient demographics, surgical factors, and incidence of postoperative eye symptoms.

Results Out of 51 patients, 7 (14%) reported postoperative eye symptoms, including redness (5), blurring (5), pain (1), temporary loss of vision (1), and photophobia (1). Most symptoms resolved spontaneously within 15 minutes. Patients aged 30-50 reported the highest incidence of symptoms, with no significant gender difference. Eye tape alone was the most common protection method used (42 out of 50 patients).

Conclusions While our use of eye protection has been largely effective, opportunities exist to further reduce the incidence of postoperative eye symptoms. Effective eye protection is crucial to prevent corneal abrasions during GA. Recommendations include improving the application of eye protection, ensuring proper lid closure, and instituting a protocol for immediate escalation if symptoms fail to resolve sponataneously.