# The protective effect of vitamin A palmitate eye gel on the ocular surface during general anaesthesia surgery: a randomized controlled trial

## TL;DR

A study found that vitamin A palmitate eye gel helps protect the eye surface during general anesthesia, reducing dryness and damage.

## Contribution

This is the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the protective effects of vitamin A palmitate eye gel during general anesthesia.

## Key findings

- Group A had less corneal abrasion and increased tear production compared to Group B post-surgery.
- Vitamin A palmitate eye gel significantly improved Schirmer tear test results during early recovery.
- Both groups returned to baseline ocular health metrics by 24 hours post-surgery.

## Abstract

To investigate the change in tear production associated with general anesthesia and the protective effect of vitamin A palmitate eye gel on the ocular surface during general anesthesia.

This double-blind, randomized clinical trial included patients undergoing non-ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia who randomly received vitamin A palmitate eye gel and taping for one eye (Group A, n = 60) or taping alone for the other eye (Group B, n = 60). Symptom assessment in dry eye (SANDE) score, tear film break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, and Schirmer tear test I (STT-1) were analyzed under a hand-held slit lamp before anesthesia (T0), 0.5 h postoperatively (T1), and 24 h postoperatively (T2).

At 0.5 h postoperatively, an increase in CFS score was observed in both groups (P < 0.05 in Group A and P < 0.01 in Group B), and the participants in Group A had less corneal abrasions than those in Group B. STT-1 significantly increased in Group A (P < 0.05), while it significantly decreased in Group B (P < 0.001). The changes between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). At 24 h postoperatively, both CFS score and STT-1 almost returned to baseline levels in the two groups. In both groups, the SANDE score and TBUT showed little change at 0.5 h and 24 h postoperatively (all P > 0.05).

Vitamin A palmitate eye gel effectively protected the ocular surface and aqueous supplementation during general anesthesia.

This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052140) on 20/10/2021.