SummaryCorneal abrasion is the most frequent ocular complication to occur during the peri-operative period. This review describes the aetiology of corneal abrasions and evaluates the current methods of prevention. Most abrasions are caused by lagophthalmos (failure of the eyelids to close fully) during general anaesthesia, resulting in corneal drying. General anaesthesia reduces both the production and the stability of tears and therefore increases the incidence of this painful condition. Taping the eyelids closed, soft contact lenses, the instillation of aqueous gels or paraffin-based ointments are all effective in preventing corneal abrasions, but ointments are associated with significant morbidity.

y The SNAP-2: EPICCS collaborators are listed in Supplementary material. AbstractBackground: Decisions to admit high-risk postoperative patients to critical care may be affected by resource availability. We aimed to quantify adult ICU/high-dependency unit (ICU/HDU) capacity in hospitals from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand (NZ), and to identify and describe additional 'high-acuity' beds capable of managing high-risk patients outside the ICU/HDU environment. Methods: We used a modified Delphi consensus method to design a survey that was disseminated via investigator networks in the UK, Australia, and NZ. Hospital-and ward-level data were collected, including bed numbers, tertiary services offered, presence of an emergency department, ward staffing levels, and the availability of critical care facilities. Results: We received responses from 257 UK (response rate: 97.7%), 35 Australian (response rate: 32.7%), and 17 NZ (response rate: 94.4%) hospitals (total 309). Of these hospitals, 91.6% reported on-site ICU or HDU facilities. UK hospitals

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Perioperative eye injuries and blindness are rare but important complications of anaesthesia. The three most common ocular complications after general anaesthesia are corneal abrasion, ischaemic optic neuropathy and central retinal artery thrombosis; the latter two are important causes of postoperative blindness. This article aims to improve the readers' knowledge of orbital anatomy, ocular physiology and the mechanisms of perioperative eye injuries.Keywords central retinal artery occlusion; corneal abrasion; intraocular pressure; ischaemic optic neuropathy Perioperative eye injuries and blindness are rare but important complications of anaesthesia. Eye injuries account for 2% of negligence claims against anaesthetists. 1 The three main problems are ischaemic optic neuropathy, central retinal artery thrombosis, and corneal abrasion. A better understanding of orbital anatomy and ocular physiology, and the mechanisms of ocular injuries during anaesthesia may help to reduce their incidence. Arterial supply to the optic nerve and retinaThe ophthalmic artery enters the orbit through the optic canal enclosed within the dural sheath of the optic nerve, and its first branch within the orbit, the central retinal artery, runs along the inferior aspect of the optic nerve, exiting from the dural sheath of the optic nerve approximately 10 mm behind the globe. The vascular supply to this posterior part of the optic nerve is from pial branches of the ophthalmic artery and the central retinal artery. 2 The central retinal artery divides into four major vessels at the optic disc, each supplying one quadrant of the retina. The retinal vessels are distributed within the inner two-thirds of the