ABSTRACT
People may feel squeamish about touching eyes, but eyecare maintains physiological and psychological health. Ocular trauma may remain unrecognised until patients regain consciousness, finding their vision permanently impaired. If ocular infection is suspected, it should be reported and recorded; swabs may need to be taken and topical antibiotics prescribed. Corneal damage exposes deeper layers to infection, while the avascularity of the cornea delays healing, often leaving opaque scar tissue. Structured eye assessment tools are not generally used in intensive care units, and with the proliferation of paper assessment tools might prove counterproductive if introduced. Eyecare in intensive care unit is often given low priority, and there is little reliable and substantiated literature to guide interventions. Eye care solutions are potential media for infection, so should be changed regularly. In addition to expiry dates, most commercial preparations have facilities for dating time of opening.
