• Why do they tape your eyes shut during surgery?

I am a 45 year old female and I will have surgery under general anesthesia. I heard that they tape eyes shut during a surgery. Why do they tape your eyes shut during surgery?

8 Answers

  • Anesthesiologist
  • Long Beach, CA

Yes we do to protect your conjuciva from injury like possible scratches

  • Anesthesiologist (Pediatric)
  • Houston, Texas

Just to protect the cornea from drying up and inadvertently getting scratched. In awake state, we can blink and prevent corneal drying up, wear dark glasses to protect from wind, etc. All these functions are not available when you are rendered unconscious.

  • Anesthesiologist
  • Lexington, Kentucky

The blink reflex is suppressed. Open eyelids will lead to drying of the conjunctiva.

  • Anesthesiologist
  • Manati, Puerto Rico

For protection. During anesthesia, eyes get dry. Also could suffer lacerations or abrasions during the procedure.

  • Anesthesiologist
  • Troy, Missouri

To prevent damage to the cornea

  • Anesthesiologist
  • Boca Raton, FL

During surgery, if you don’t tape the eyes, they can open slightly and get dry which subsequently can cause corneal abrasions.
Hope this helps.

  • Anesthesiologist
  • Woodstock, Ontario

We tape eyes to protect them during surgery and so they don't dry up.  For some procedures, we may put a sterile lubricant in the eye prior to or instead of taping them.

Steven Dain

  • Anesthesiologist
  • Houston, Texas

To prevent eye injury.

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