Evidence of interventions for the risk of dry eye in critically ill patients: An integrative review.

AIMS: Identify the best scientific evidence available to eye care in order to prevent dry eye.

METHOD: Review study conducted according to the three steps of the evidence-based practice, guided by the following question, grounded in the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome strategy: "What is the best scientific evidence available to eye care related to preventing dry eye?" Two databases were used, the web portal Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and two digital libraries. Data were organized by using three structured forms.

RESULTS

Ten studies made up the final sample, in English, with evidence levels between I and III. The results pointed out differences regarding the best or most appropriate occlusion and ocular lubrication methods to prevent dry eye.

CONCLUSION

Several care methods showed strong scientific evidence to prevent dry eye, related to occlusion and ocular lubrication. There is a need for further studies to determine the strength of this evidence.