Ophthalmic medications, glaucoma, and the surgical patient.

Patients receiving chronic ophthalmic therapy have a potential for respiratory or hemodynamic compromise during a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia. During the perioperative phase of preoperative assessment and evaluation, pertinent patient information is gathered by asking the right questions and understanding the significance of the information gathered. The collected information, which is unique to these patients, is essential in facilitating in the intraoperative plan of care, thus insuring an uncomplicated, satisfactory, and safe immediate postoperative outcome.