2022-07-13

Proper application of an eye surgical drape is an important step to prevent endophthalmitis during intraocular surgery. The bacteria that cause endophthalmitis usually originate from the patient's eyelids and eyelashes. The purpose of applying an eye surgical drape is to isolate the eyelid, eyelid margin, and eyelashes from the surgical field to reduce the incidence of infection. The specific operations are as follows:
1. Fold the surgical ophthalmic drape in half, then instruct the patient to open the eyelids and gaze to the left in the case of the right eye and to the right in the case of the left eye.
2. Use a dry surgical sponge spear to open the eyelid near the lateral canthal area, then the drape can be applied asserting pressure only temporally and angled in line with the temporal bone.
3. The eye drape is opened and placed over the eye with pressure applied to the inner canthal area and eyelid.
Proper use of an eye drape can successfully isolate the eye in the surgical field and reduce the incidence of corneal epithelial defects or loosening of epithelial cells that can interfere with vision recovery.