Exposure keratopathy: Incidence, risk factors and impact of protocolised care on exposure keratopathy in critically ill adults.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the rate of exposure keratopathy (EK) in critically ill patients, identify risk factors for developing EK and ascertain the effectiveness of a protocol to prevent EK.

Materials And Methods: We undertook a two-phase prospective cohort study in a general adult ICU with first-phase being observational and an eye care protocol was introduced in the second-phase. Daily ophthalmic assessment was carried out along with recording of various risk factors.

Incidence, risk factors and impact of protocolised care on exposure keratopathy in critically ill adults: a two-phase prospective cohort study.

Background: Exposure keratopathy (EK) has a high incidence in critically ill patients. We aimed to determine the rate of EK in patients admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU), identify risk factors for developing EK and ascertain the effectiveness of a protocol to prevent EK.

Methods: We undertook a two-phase prospective cohort single-centre study in a general adult ICU.