In ICU patients, the mechanisms responsible for eye lubrication and protection may be compromised. The elements responsible for eye globe protection are the eyebrows, eyelids, conjunctiva, and lacrimal apparatus. The eyebrows protect the eyes from the sweat that comes from the forehead. This anatomical structure is preserved in sedated/comatose patients. The eyelids are two moving folds that protect the eye and provide rest against light, while the conjunctiva coats the eyelid and eye sclera internally. The eyelids’ closing apparatus in ICU patients may be compromised, thus not closing the globe effectively, leaving the cornea exposed to the environment. The lacrimal apparatus produces tears, providing the moisture required for eye structures, including the cornea, and forms a tear cover against drying. Wetness and formation of the tear cover are very important for the maintenance of eye structures, especially in the cornea (Moreira, 1995). The cornea is located in the anterior part of the eye globe, being the first surface of eye refraction. The cornea’s primary physiological function is to maintain a smooth
optical surface and a transparent means that protects the intraocular content (Moreira, 1995; Nenber, 2002).