BACKGROUND: To show that a pledget soaked in mydriatics and placed in the lower conjunctival fornix is as effective as drops in providing mydriasis for cataract surgery. METHODS: A randomized, masked, controlled trial of 56 patients assigned to either a pledget group (n=25) or acontrol eye drops group (n=31) was carried out. Controls had the routine practice of repeated topical mydriatic drops: tropicamide, phenylepherine and atropine. The trial group had a 3-mm pledget trimmed, soaked in mydriatics and placed in the inferior fornix for 20 min. Pupil diameter was measured using a photographic technique with a standard scale shown in each picture. Two masked observers measured the pupils using the scale of the ruler in the developed photograph. All patients completed a 0-10 stinging score prior to surgery. RESULTS: There were no complications. The mean pupil diameter in the control group was 7.23 (6.91-7.94 95% confidence intervals [CI]) and 7.44 (6.96-7.92 95% CI) in the pledget group. There was no statistically significant difference in pupil diameter between the two groups: difference between means 0.21 (-0.32 to 0.75 95% CI) and Student's t-test of the difference between means (t=0.8 and two-tailed) probability P=0.43. There was no significant difference in the stinging scores: Mann-Whitney test P=0.69. CONCLUSION: The use of a pledget cellulose sponge to deliver mydriatics prior to cataract surgery is as effective as the conventional method of repeated drop administration and was not associated with any adverse effects.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: To show that a pledget soaked in mydriatics and placed in the lower conjunctival fornix is as effective as drops in providing mydriasis for cataract surgery. METHODS: A randomized, masked, controlled trial of 56 patients assigned to either a pledget group (n=25) or a control eye drops group (n=31) was carried out. Controls had the routine practice of repeated topical mydriatic drops: tropicamide, phenylepherine and atropine. The trial group had a 3-mm pledget trimmed, soaked in mydriatics and placed in the inferior fornix for 20 min. Pupil diameter was measured using a photographic technique with a standard scale shown in each picture. Two masked observers measured the pupils using the scale of the ruler in the developed photograph. All patients completed a 0-10 stinging score prior to surgery. RESULTS: There were no complications. The mean pupil diameter in the control group was 7.23 (6.91-7.94 95% confidence intervals [CI]) and 7.44 (6.96-7.92 95% CI) in the pledget group. There was no statistically significant difference in pupil diameter between the two groups: difference between means 0.21 (-0.32 to 0.75 95% CI) and Student's t-test of the difference between means (t=0.8 and two-tailed) probability P=0.43. There was no significant difference in the stinging scores: Mann-Whitney test P=0.69. CONCLUSION: The use of a pledget cellulose sponge to deliver mydriatics prior to cataract surgery is as effective as the conventional method of repeated drop administration and was not associated with any adverse effects.
Authors: Manuel Saenz-de-Viteri; Patricia Fernández-Robredo; Elisa de Nova; Elvira Bonet-Farriol; Alfonso L Sabater; Javier Zarranz-Ventura; Josemaria Caire; Luis M Sádaba; Angel Salinas-Alamán; Alfredo García-Layana Journal: Int J Ophthalmol Date: 2013-12-18 Impact factor: 1.779
Authors: Mustafa Iftikhar; Samuel A Abariga; Barbara S Hawkins; Sidra Zafar; Tahreem A Mir; Henry Jampel; Fasika A Woreta Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-05-27