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Eyelid Taping Alone Versus Taping With Lubricant Eye Drops for Perioperative Corneal Protection

NCT07562594 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 200

Last updated 2026-05-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

During general anesthesia, the eye's natural protective reflexes are suppressed, which can lead to corneal drying and injury. To prevent this, anesthesiologists routinely tape the eyelids closed. In many centers, lubricant eye drops are also applied in addition to taping, but whether this adds meaningful protection is unclear.This study will compare two approaches to eye protection during general anesthesia lasting 30 minutes to 3 hours: eyelid taping alone versus eyelid taping combined with lubricant eye drops. Two hundred adult patients undergoing elective, non-eye surgery in the supine position will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups.The main outcome is corneal surface damage measured by a standardized fluorescein staining score (NEI scale, 0-15) assessed by a blinded evaluator one hour after surgery. Secondary outcomes include tear film stability (TBUT), tear production (Schirmer test), patient-reported eye symptoms at 2 and 24 hours after surgery, and a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the two approaches.If taping alone proves equally effective, routine use of lubricant eye drops may be unnecessary, reducing costs without compromising patient safety.

Conditions

  • Corneal Injury
  • Exposure Keratopathy
  • Perioperative Complications

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Hypoallergenic Eyelid Taping

Hypoallergenic surgical tape is applied horizontally across the tarsal plate of both eyes immediately after anesthesia induction and loss of lid reflex, prior to airway securing. The tape covers the entire lid margin without contacting the eyelashes. It remains in place until extubation is complete and spontaneous eye opening is confirmed.

COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Hypoallergenic Eyelid Taping With Lubricant Eye Drops

Preservative-free lubricant eye drops (carboxymethylcellulose 0.5%, single-dose vial) are instilled into both conjunctival fornices immediately after anesthesia induction and loss of lid reflex. Hypoallergenic surgical tape is then applied horizontally across the tarsal plate of both eyes. Tape remains in place until extubation is complete and spontaneous eye opening is confirmed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • cansu ofluoglu, md · ISTANBUL PROVINCIAL HEALTH DIRECTORATE FATIH SULTAN MEHMET TRAINING AND RESEARCH HOSPITAL

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
75 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-06-01
Primary Completion
2026-12-01
Completion
2026-12-02

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07562594 on ClinicalTrials.gov