Comparing the effects of vitamin A ointment and liposic gel on corneal abrasion prevention during general anesthesia in nonocular surgeries: a double-blind randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the effects of vitamin A ointment and Liposic gel on perioperative corneal abrasion (CA) prevention during nonocular surgeries. Design A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Methods In this double-blind randomized clinical trial 50 eligible candidates for nonocular surgeries were purposively selected from XXX teaching hospital, XXX. One patient eye was randomly allocated to the vitamin A group and the other eye to the Liposic gel group. Immediately after anesthesia induction and blinking reflex suppression, eye care was provided using vitamin A ointment in the vitamin A group and Liposic gel in the Liposic gel group. CA was assessed using the fluorescein eye stain test at the end of general anesthesia, at the end of postoperative recovery, and 24 h after surgery. Eye problems were also assessed 24 h after surgery using an eye problems questionnaire. The SPSS software (v. 23.0) was employed for data analysis through the Wilcoxon’s, paired-sample t, and Friedman’s tests as well as the repeated measures analysis of variance. Findings The prevalence of CA in the vitamin A and the Liposic gel groups was 32 and 50% at the end of general anesthesia (P=0.039), 32 and 52% at the end of postoperative recovery (P = 0.018), and 0 and 0% 24 h after surgery (P = 1.00), respectively. There were no significant between-group differences respecting postoperative eye problems (P > 0.05). Conclusion Vitamin A ointment is more effective than Liposic gel in significantly preventing CA among patients undergoing non-ocular surgeries under general anesthesia.