ABSTRACT
This chapter emphasizes on the preparation, instrumentation, principles of surgery, and postoperative care of patients for ophthalmic surgery of the adnexa and the cornea. Sponges used in ophthalmic surgery can be either the common cotton-tipped applicators or cellulose sponges. Positioning of the patient for ophthalmic surgery can vary from dorsal, sternal, or lateral recumbency, depending on the surgeon's preference, the skull conformation, and the procedure to be performed. If the cornea is perforated, the surgeon may elect no lid shaving or preparation other than cutting the lashes and the long periocular hairs with jelly-coated fine scissors and cautiously cleaning the conjunctival cul-de-sac with saline/diluted povidone-iodine solution moistened cotton tip applicators. Postoperative eyelid skin infection is uncommon, so relatively minor plastic surgery of the eyelid, such as simple entropion, is managed as a "clean" procedure. This protocol may also be used for minor third eyelid surgeries, minor conjunctival surgery, and minor superficial keratectomies.
