Visual loss after anesthesia different causes: different solutions--a review.

It has long been recognized that visual damage may follow the administration of anesthesia. In 1937, Guedel noted “We still see too much conjunctivitis and traumatic keratitis following anesthesia”1. The injuries at that time were attributed to open drop ether through a gauze covered mask in hard to handle subjects who half opened their eyes during light anesthesia (the patient was deemed in part responsible). A towel was customarily placed over the eyes and often became saturated quickly. Given that about 90% of anesthetics were produced by ether, mostly by an open or simple mask system throughout the first half of the 20th century, it is not surprising that serious corneal injuries were common but considered a small price to pay for a pain free surgical experience.