Preoperative ocular disinfection by the use of povidone-iodine 5%.

Numerous disinfective methods have been proposed in order to prevent intraocular infections during eye operations. In a clinical-laboratory study we evaluated the effectiveness of povidone-iodine solution 5% as a preventive - preoperative means of conjunctival antisepsis prior to ocular surgery. Conjunctival cultures were performed on 100 patients. Group A (50 patients) had their fornices washed with normal saline immediately before surgery. In Group B (50 patients) one drop of povidone-iodine solution 5% was applied prior to preoperative wash of the fornices with normal saline. Thirty-three out of 50 eyes from Group A had positive cultures (66%). Only 15 out of 50 eyes from Group B had positive cultures (30%). Bacteria flora differed in the two groups, with Group A exhibiting more dangerous strains. Preoperative-preventive disinfection with povidone-iodine 5% may prove to be advantageous to ocular surgery.