Comparison of eye protection with methylcellulose and paraffin ointments during general anaesthesia

A total of 120 patients who were all anaesthetized for more than 90 minutes were given eye protection with paraffin-based oculentum simplex. Ph. Nord. 63, in one eye, and water-based four per cent methylccllulosc in the other. Anaesthesia was conducted with halothane, or thiopentone and meperidine. or by a neurolept technique. Peri-ocular oedema and reaction in the conjunctiva resembling conjunctivitis was less pronounced after methylcellulose. When both paraffin-based ointment and halothane anaesthesia were used, there were signs of drug interaction, as the patients’ conjunctivae were now distinctly red. In all three types of anaesthesia, methylcellulose produces a firm gluing of the eyelids with the result that the eye is not dried out and the eye is protected mechanically so that foreign bodies and corneal abrasions are avoided. There were no untoward effects of methylcellulose. It is concluded that methylcellulose four per cent provides better eye protection than paraffin during general anaesthesia.